Scientists have used seismic waves to create a universal scaling for the sense of touch, paving the way for hyper realistic virtual reality. The ‘Universal law of touch’ theory was created by researchers at the University of Birmingham, who used mathematical modelling of touch receptors in humans and other animal species. Researchers studied a type of seismic waves known as Rayleigh waves, which are created by the impact of two objects. By applying the mathematics of earthquakes to model how vibrations travel through the skin, the team discovered that vibration receptors beneath the skin respond to Rayleigh waves in the same way regardless of age, gender, or even species.
The University of Birmingham researchers form part of European consortium H-Reality, which is already using the theory to develop next-generation VR technologies. The ambition of the group is to imbue virtual objects with a physical presence, providing a revolutionary, untethered, virtual-haptic reality. It is one of several efforts to create digital worlds that feel indistinguishable from reality, with Bristol-based startup Ultraleap creating haptic feedback hardware capable of simulating virtual touch. Applications range from video games and chat rooms, to remote surgery and industrial set ups that allow workers to control dangerous machinery remotely.
More information: