Introduction to REVEL Technology
REVEL is a brand new wearable tactile technology developed by Disney Research, Pittsburgh, that modifies the user’s tactile perception of the physical world. This technology can provide a layer of artificial tactile texture on almost any surface or object, including touch-screens, partitions, furniture, plastic or picket objects, and even human skin. The better part about REVEL is that it requires little to no instrumentation of the physical world, making it a highly versatile and modern technology.
How REVEL Works
Instead of altering the physical surfaces themselves, Disney researchers employ a newly discovered physical phenomenon called reverse electrovibration to create the illusion of fixing textures because the user’s fingers sweep across a surface. A weak electrical signal, which could be applied imperceptibly anywhere on the user’s body, creates an oscillating electrical field across the user’s fingers that’s answerable for the tactile feedback. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the best way we interact with the physical world and will have a wide selection of applications in fields reminiscent of gaming, education, and accessibility.
Potential Applications of REVEL
The technology, called REVEL, may very well be used to create "please touch" museum displays, add haptic feedback to games, apply texture to projected images on surfaces of any size and shape, provide customized directions on partitions for individuals with visual disabilities, and enhance other applications of augmented reality. According to Olivier Bau, a postdoc at Disney Research, Pittsburgh, "Augmented reality thus far has focused totally on visual and auditory feedback, but less on the sense of touch. Sight and sound are vital, but we consider the addition of touch can create a really extraordinary and magical experience."
The Science Behind REVEL
The electrovibration effect was first reported in 1953 and is a sensation that individuals sometimes feel after they slide a finger across a smooth metal surface of an ungrounded electrical appliance. With the dry, outer layer of skin serving as an insulator, a small alternating current applied to the conductive metal surface can generate a sexy force between the surface and a small electrical charge induced within the fluids of the finger’s deeper tissues because the finger moves across the surface. Bau and Poupyrev discovered that the identical sensation may very well be created by applying the small alternating current anywhere on the user’s body as an alternative of the surface — reverse electrovibration.
Technical Details
By tracking the finger’s position using an external sensor, reminiscent of a Microsoft Kinect, the researchers can manipulate the electrovibration to make the user feel bumps, edges, or changes in texture corresponding to particular locations on the surface. The amount of current used is incredibly low — within the microampere range — and presents no health and safety concerns. The surfaces themselves require no extensive modification, though they have to be coated with an insulator-covered electrode, or "REVEL skin." Anodized aluminum objects or capacitive touch-screens could be used with none modification, while a REVEL skin could be manufactured on partitions or other surfaces using off-the-shelf materials.
Conclusion
REVEL technology has the potential to revolutionize the best way we interact with the physical world and will have a wide selection of applications in fields reminiscent of gaming, education, and accessibility. With its ability to supply a layer of artificial tactile texture on almost any surface or object, REVEL could create latest and modern experiences that mix visual, auditory, and tactile回. As researchers proceed to develop and refine this technology, we will expect to see latest and exciting applications of REVEL in the long run. For more information on REVEL, including research papers and project updates, visit the Disney Research website.
