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Haptic Glove Lets You Feel Distant Objects Underwater (discovery.com)

Posted by samzenpus on from the reach-out-and-touch-something dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Ph.D. candidates Aisen Caro Chacin and Takeshi Ozu at Japan's Tsukuba University have created a haptic sonar glove that allows wearers to "feel" objects that are out of reach underwater. "IrukaTact" uses sonar to detect items from a distance, and applies increasing pressure to the fingertips as the user moves closer. The glove has been packaged as a DIY kit that could potentially be used to search for victims or sunken objects, as well as for specific hazards, such as sinkholes.

29 comments

  1. Marco by turkeydance · · Score: 1

    Polo

    1. Re:Marco by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 0

      Polo

      . . . and a great many Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, too boot, as well.

      . . . now about that God-dammned-turkey-dancingingly-thingingie-zilla . . . we'll be right be out by after the last song . . . that drunk brother-in-law of ours never knows when it is time enough to leave the stage . . . :-) . . .

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  2. Remotely groping people in Tokyo's subways by ffkom · · Score: 2

    This coming from Japan I just cannot resist the urge to predict the first "killer application" for this technology: Not for tedious underwater work, of course, but for remotely groping foreign people without being noticed in Tokyo's packed subways. ;-)

    1. Re:Remotely groping people in Tokyo's subways by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      FuFme v0.1

    2. Re:Remotely groping people in Tokyo's subways by sunderland56 · · Score: 1

      Last time I rode them, Tokyo's subways were not under water.

      At the beaches, though, I see your point. Bonus points if the glove looks like a tentacle.

    3. Re:Remotely groping people in Tokyo's subways by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yeah right. Smack that ass to get some great sonar readings.

    4. Re:Remotely groping people in Tokyo's subways by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      "remotely groping foreign people without being noticed in Tokyo's packed subways"

      Who says that "underwater work" has to be tedious? Not for onsen no chikan, it won't be.

    5. Re:Remotely groping people in Tokyo's subways by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Echolocation works just fine in air.

    6. Re:Remotely groping people in Tokyo's subways by gstoddart · · Score: 1

      Not for tedious underwater work, of course, but for remotely groping

      Well, subway groping jokes aside ... it's all still the same old teledildonics. A glove which can be used to 'feel' remotely is half way to an internet handjob, subway or no.

      As you point out, the killer application is almost always sex.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    7. Re:Remotely groping people in Tokyo's subways by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We need a vote! What is the best technology for groupin' ass on the subway, from afar?
      - Sonar
      - Radar
      - Infrared
      - Selfie stick

    8. Re:Remotely groping people in Tokyo's subways by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, portions of Tokyo's subway are underwater. As in air filled tunnels dug out under the ocean. Yes, I'm aware of how pedantic this fact is.

  3. feel? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    why is this better than making a visualization and letting people 'see' objects that are out of reach underwater?

    1. Re:feel? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It could work in conjunction with a visual or it could allow a blind person to analyze sonar readouts.
      What are your thoughts on interstellar travel? Waste of time? Waste of tax dollars? How does it impact you here on Earth if some dude is flying to Mars or Pluto?

    2. Re:feel? by Vokkyt · · Score: 1

      I don't think it's quite the same league as interstellar travel...

      This is a change of output on an existing technology from the audio/visual output that we're used to when we think about SONAR, not really an advancement of the technology itself. As has been mentioned in other posts, this isn't really new and like the AC you're condescending to, I'm kind of wondering what practical purpose this has.

      The title is absolutely misleading, as you don't feel objects, you get a haptic response based on distance away. At best it's good for a game of hot/cold where you have no idea if the feedback your getting is for the object you're looking for or not. Your scenario of a blind person being able to use sonar is certainly intriguing, though I do sort of wonder if they would have the same efficacy as someone in front of a SONAR screen (assuming both equally experienced in their trade).

      Not every question about a new product is a dismissal, sometimes it's just asking valid questions that the person asking doesn't have an answer to.

    3. Re:feel? by dpidcoe · · Score: 1

      The title is absolutely misleading, as you don't feel objects, you get a haptic response based on distance away. At best it's good for a game of hot/cold where you have no idea if the feedback your getting is for the object you're looking for or not

      Sort of. It really depends on how fine grained the sonar is and how much lag exists between movement and feedback. With a small gradient, fast feedback, and some high resolution sonar I'd bet you could get it very close to something akin to feeling the object through gloves.

  4. This has been done before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just saying...

  5. Gurgle... bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you can make it haptic you can make it visual and therefore useful and a lot less expensive.

    1. Re: Gurgle... bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But more expensive => better. They should add 3D printing, graphene, and fusion to make it even better.

  6. One step closer... by AcquaCow · · Score: 0

    ... to virtual sex online... This is what computers were made for.

    --

    up 12 days, 22:30, 2 users, load averages: 993.20, 994.21, 994.56
    *makes note to limit user processes...
  7. Noodling! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ahhh Yeeahhhh!!! I know how I'm gonna fish next time.

  8. Oooh, so does that mean... by scubamage · · Score: 1

    We'll be opening the Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation soon!?!?

  9. Am I the only one.... by mark-t · · Score: 1

    ... to think of rule 34 when I read this?

    --
    File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    1. Re:Am I the only one.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Haptic Glove Lets You Feel Distant Objects in Your Underwear"

      At least you won't get slapped anymore

  10. feeling your unborn child by goombah99 · · Score: 1

    Selling this for use with pre-natal ultrasound would be in high demand.

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
  11. Maybe I should put on my glasses. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I read the subject as "Haptic Glove Lets You Feel Distant Objects Underwear"

    Go Go Inspector Haptic Gloves!

  12. Underwater? by robi5 · · Score: 1

    I haven't RTFA but what's underwater specific about it? The haptic gloves stop working above sea level? If you have haptic gloves - basically a rendering device like a computer screen - you can show anything on it, like virtual objects in a 3D scene, or ... surface scenery, or cloud distributions (I mean old fashioned, floating clouds in the air) or even remote galaxies.The very definition of a rendering device is that you can render whatever you want, up to the constraints of the device (resolution etc.) which all have nothing to do with what is rendered.

    1. Re:Underwater? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Presumably because this implementation uses sonar. As you say it could be applied to other inputs.

  13. I read as by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Haptic glove lets you feel distant underwear.

  14. Misreading Headlines by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Haptic Glove Lets You Feel Distant Objects In Your Underwear