Kiss and tell... first virtual smooch is a vibration away
LOVED ones will soon be able to end video calls with a realistic kiss – thanks to a headset that can simulate sensations on the lips.
Researchers have created a system allowing people to experience touch, based on what they see and hear in a 3-D virtual reality “visor”.
The breakthrough is possible thanks to small units that focus sounds on the lips, creating sensations such as taps and vibrations.
These “ultra-sonic transducers” were simply added to an ordinary virtual reality headset to convert the audio energy into tiny beams which are aimed at the mouth.
Research team member Chris Harrison said: “We can focus sound waves, sort of like a laser, and create a vibration on the skin.”
To demonstrate the innovation, a team at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, built a variety of sensory demos, including raindrops, pushing through cobwebs,
crawling bugs, brushing teeth, having a coffee and even the feel of smoking a cigarette.
A spokesperson explained: “In addition to the lips, our effects can be felt on the teeth and tongue.”
When these sensations are matched with 3-D video and graphics, the effects are convincing for the user, creating a realistic “immersive experience”.
And all components are built into the headset, meaning the user does not need to wear an additional accessory, or place any external gadgets in their room.
The study said: “The mouth is of interest, as it is a close second in tactile sensitivity to the fingertips, offering a unique opportunity to add fine-grained haptic effects.”
However, online love may have to wait a while longer as kissing is harder to simulate.
Chris added: “Our invention is great for simulating things like rain drops, or insects crawling, or water splashes, or wind, but a kiss is quite complex.
“That said, today’s VR headsets have no feeling of touch for the mouth at all, so we’re at least moving in the right direction with extra immersion, even if it is incomplete.”