Touch 3D Objects in Virtual Space with Novint Falcon

Novint Falcon is a pod that enables motorized force feedback to simulate the experience of touching three-dimensional objects in virtual space.

The device has three articulated arms attached to a center grip which users can move like a mouse. This however moves in a vertical orientation rather than horizontal.  Motorized resistance to the arms, highly developed software algorithms and impressive engineering together give the user a chance to experience a variety of stimuli that resemble quite a few real world physical interactions.

At a Novint demo, a three-dimensional ball with a lot of lumps and bumps was placed onscreen and an onscreen hand that ran over its surface was controlled by the falcon grip. Similarly another demo involved the experience of shoving a hand through a ball of goop and yet another was the experience of drawing back the string of a bow and arrow. Each one provided a believable sensation of touch as though one was actually doing them.

One of the best features of the Novint demo was the real gameplay. With the help of a Half Life 2 mod, the Falcon controls and interacts with the game wonderfully. The horizontal grip translates the in-game physics of Half-Life 2 into real life. For example, when picking up a box in the game, force has to be applied down to the grip, creating a truly realistic sensation of weight. Similarly actions like hitting the wall with a crowbar results in a realistic jarring-vibrating-jolt and gunfire provides the appropriate recoil effect.  

The device has a door-knob like bulb grip that can be removed and swapped with a conceivable design like, for example, a pistol grip. Novint hopes to launch Falcon in 2007 for $100 USD.

Source: Blindconfidential