Recreating the Perception of Touch using a Shape-Memory Alloy Matrix
PhantomTouch is a wearable forearm augmentation that enables the recreation of natural touch sensation by applying shear-forces onto the skin. In contrast to previous approaches, we arrange light-weight and stretchable 3x3cm plasters in a matrix onto the skin. Individual plasters were embedded with lines of shape-memory alloy (SMA) wires to generate shear-forces. Our design is informed by a series of studies investigating the perceptibility of different sizes, spacings, and attachments of plasters on the forearm. Our matrix arrangement enables the perception of touches, for instance, feeling ones wrist being grabbed or the arm being stroked.
Publications
Touch me gently: Recreating the Perception of Touch using a Shape-memory Alloy Matrix.
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2020)
Sachith Muthukumarana, Don Samitha Elvitigala, Juan Pablo Forero Cortes, Denys J. C. Matthies, and Suranga Nanayakkara.
[DOI ]
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PhantomTouch: Creating an Extended Reality by the Illusion of Touch using a Shape-memory Alloy Matrix.
ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques (SIGGRAPH Asia 2019 XR)
Sachith Muthukumarana, Don Samitha Elvitigala, Juan Pablo Forero Cortes, Denys J. C. Matthies, and Suranga Nanayakkara.
[DOI ]
[PDF ]
[VIDEO ]
Press and Awards
Global Grad Show 2020:
The project “Touch me Gently” has been selected to feature in the Global Grad Show 2020 edition in Dubai, as one of the top 100 graduate research projects across the world. Global Grad Show 2020 received 1,600 applications received from graduates in 270 universities from all over the world.
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Finalist at the Best Design Awards:
The project "Touch me Gently” has been selected as a finalist in the Best Design Awards ceremony under Student Digital category.
[LINK ]