Immersive experiences seek to engage the full sensory system
in ways that words, pictures, or touch alone cannot. With
respect to the haptic system, however, physical feedback has
been provided primarily with handheld tactile experiences or
vibration-based designs, largely ignoring both pressure receptors
and the full upper-body area as conduits for expressing
meaning that is consistent with sight and sound. We extend
the potential for immersion along these dimensions with the
Force Jacket, a novel array of pneumatically-actuated airbags
and force sensors that provide precisely directed force and
high frequency vibrations to the upper body. We describe the
pneumatic hardware and force control algorithms, user studies
to verify perception of airbag location and pressure magnitude,
and subsequent studies to define full-torso, pressure and
vibration-based feel effects such as punch, hug, and snake
moving across the body. We also discuss the use of those
effects in prototype virtual reality applications.
Link to publication page:
https://www.disneyresearch.com/publication/force-jacket/
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