4. Sensory interface applications

4.1 Sensory interfaces for virtual reality

The advent of virtual reality techniques offers human beings the possibility, in a variety of applications, of interacting with synthetic worlds, i.e. computer-generated virtual environments. Engineers have already solved the problem of visual and auditory immersions, thanks to computer graphics and 3D sound technology respectively, by means of new hardware interfaces. We are only just beginning to integrate the haptic sense as a modality in its own right within virtual environments. The aim is to enable people to interact fully with virtual objects. While solutions are emerging for kinaesthetic feedback (constraining the human operator's movement), the same cannot be said for tactile feedback. Yet the importance of tactile feedback is obvious...