AI-Enabled Mid-Air Haptic Texture Generation

“Touch comes before sight, before speech.

It is the first language and the last, and it always tells the truth” (Margaret Atwood, 2000), yet digital content today remains focused on visual and auditory stimulation.

This project focuses on commercializing mid-air haptic texture generation --- a novel technology developed within the H-Reality FET-Open project that would unlock the virtualisation and digitisation of mid-air touch interactions in the immersive and digital signage advertising markets (e.g., touching holograms of different fabrics in a shop) and enable novel business use-cases in new market verticals spanning from media and entertainment to retail and healthcare.

Our three project objectives are to (1) understand market opportunities through market research and validation activities, (2) create demo prototypes that address the identified market opportunities and achieve product-market fit, and (3) engage with industry and validate a business model that will kickstart commercial activities.

Our consortium comprises of experts in mid-air haptics, market research and technology innovation, and 3D interaction techniques, and is uniquely positioned to achieve these three objectives and leverage our IP assets towards their commercial exploitation while creating new opportunities for market innovation.