AIREAL

Tactile Gaming Experiences in Free Air

Interactions with computers have expanded into the physical world. Recent developments of low-cost gesture-tracking technologies, like the Microsoft Kinect, have enabled millions of users to interact with their computers by gesturing with their bodies. Furthermore, computer-vision tracking and registration techniques now enable novel projection-based displays to overlay projected images into our physical environments, creating entirely new augmented-reality experiences.

One missing piece in this emerging world of natural interfaces is the absence of physical feedback. AIREAL is a technology that delivers interactive tactile experiences in free air. Currently, users are still required to wear physical devices (for example, gloves, belts, vests) to receive tactile feedback, which hinders natural user interaction and limits the range of applications that can effectively employ tactile feedback. With AIREAL, interactive tactile sensations can be created in free air using compressed air pressure fields that stimulate the user’s skin. The system is designed to use vortices