Multi-Haptic Feedback Texture Simulation and its Influence on the 'Sense of Presence' in Virtual Environments

Abstract

The value and applicability of virtual reality (VR) experiences increases with the user’s ‘sense of presence’. A crucial tool to achieve high levels of ‘presence’ is haptic feedback. This study builds on state-of-the-art haptic feedback implementations by introducing a novel technique for simulating surface textures of 3D objects in VR environments. The approach generates tactile sensations by using existing roughness and height maps to control the frequency and amplitude of vibrations induced by haptic feedback gloves. Additionally, the height maps drive an active force feedback strap to further enhance the tactile sensations. An absolute identification user study determined an accuracy of approximately 50% for distinguishing textures, which is almost 4 times better than random guessing. Although force feedback did not lead to an improvement in the overall texture sensation, it significantly improved the identification of certain textures. A second user study measured the ‘sense of presence’. This was found to not significantly differ between absence or presence of texture simulation. Nonetheless, this does not negate the approach’s validity. The results suggest that with further refinement and continued exploration, this method may enhance the ‘sense of presence’ in VR experiences.