Researchers in China have developed a new device that allows users to experience tactile interaction with objects in virtual reality (VR), drawing inspiration from the art of paper crafts of origami. The device, as presented in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence, enables users to feel the texture and hardness of virtual objects, as well as experience positive or negative tactile sensations.
The device employs the principle of curved origami, which adjusts its shape and rigidity according to the user’s movements and pressure. In contrast to other devices used for tactile feedback, this device enables users to actively explore and manipulate various objects in VR, such as balls, cubes, flowers, or planets.
The device syncs with virtual content and adjusts its structure to different scenarios of interaction. For instance, if a user wants to squash a ball in VR, the device becomes soft and supple, while it becomes solid and rigid for a simulacrum of, say, a cube or planet.
Quantitative estimates have shown that the device fosters higher levels of immersion in VR compared to existing vibration-based devices. Overall, these new concepts and technologies open up possibilities for more realistic and engaging virtual experiences.