The PHANToM Haptic Device

At the simplest level, the PHANToM device's design allows the user to interact with the computer by inserting his or her finger into a thimble. For more sophisticated applications, multiple fingers may be used simultaneously or other devices such as a stylus or tool handle may be substituted for the thimble.

The PHANToM haptic interface represents a revolution in human computer interface technology. Before the PHANToM, computer users only had the capability to interact with the machine through the sense of sight, and more recently, sound. The sense of touch, the most important sense in many tasks, has been conspicuously absent. The PHANToM device changes all of this. Just as the monitor enables users to see computer generated images, and audio speakers allow them to hear synthesized sounds, the PHANToM device makes it possible for users to touch and manipulate virtual objects. There are three models of the PHANToM haptic interface, providing a range of workspaces.

What makes the PHANToM haptic interface so unique?Research on touch, or haptic, computer interfaces, has been active for decades. The PHANToM, based on work done at MIT, represents a breakthrough in this research. The PHANToM is unique in that it offers realistic 3-D Touch, the ability to feel the physical properties of virtual 3-D objects, with much higher fidelity and much lower cost than previous force feedback devices. The device’s patented and elegant design allows:High fidelity of 3-D haptic feedback

• Ability to operate in an office/desktop environment
• Compatibility with standard PCs and UNIX workstations
• Universal design for a broad range of applications
  

The PHANToM haptic interface is distinguished from other touch interfaces by what it isn’t. The PHANToM is not:

• A bulky exoskeletal device
• A buzzing tactile stimulator
• A vibrating joystick

The PHANToM device provides a vivid haptic experience that reproduces human touch with real world clarity, earning it wide recognition and numerous awards.

Christoph Lauer 3.2003