Showing papers by "Ali Israr published in 2014"

Feel Effects: Enriching Storytelling with Haptic Feedback

Abstract: Despite a long history of use in communication, haptic feedback is a relatively new addition to the toolbox of special effects. Unlike artists who use sound or vision, haptic designers cannot simply access libraries of effects that map cleanly to media content, and they lack even guiding principles for creating such effects. In this article, we make progress toward both capabilities: we generate a foundational library of usable haptic vocabulary and do so with a methodology that allows ongoing additions to the library in a principled and effective way. We define a feel effect as an explicit pairing between a meaningful linguistic phrase and a rendered haptic pattern. Our initial experiment demonstrates that users who have only their intrinsic language capacities, and no haptic expertise, can generate a core set of feel effects that lend themselves via semantic inference to the design of additional effects. The resulting collection of more than 40 effects covers a wide range of situations (including precipitation, animal locomotion, striking, and pulsating events) and is empirically shown to produce the named sensation for the majority of our test users in a second experiment. Our experiments demonstrate a unique and systematic approach to designing a vocabulary of haptic sensations that are related in both the semantic and parametric spaces.

FeelCraft: crafting tactile experiences for media using a feel effect library

Abstract: FeelCraft is a media plugin that monitors events and states in the media and associates them with expressive tactile content using a library of feel effects (FEs). A feel effect (FE) is a user-defined haptic pattern that, by virtue of its connection to a meaningful event, generates dynamic and expressive effects on the user's body. We compiled a library of more than fifty FEs associated with common events in games, movies, storybooks, etc., and used them in a sandbox-type gaming platform. The FeelCraft plugin allows a game designer to quickly generate haptic effects, associate them to events in the game, play them back for testing, save them and/or broadcast them to other users to feel the same haptic experience. Our demonstration shows an interactive procedure for authoring haptic media content using the FE library, playing it back during interactions in the game, and broadcasting it to a group of guests.

Uminari: Freeform Interactive Loudspeakers

Abstract: We present freeform interactive loudspeakers for creating spatial sound experiences from a variety of surfaces. Surround sound systems are widely used and consist of multiple electromagnetic speakers that create point sound sources within a space. Our proposed system creates directional sound and can be easily embedded into architecture, furniture and many everyday objects. We use electrostatic loudspeaker technology made from thin, flexible, lightweight and low cost materials and can be of different size and shape. In this paper we propose various configurations such as single speaker, speaker array tangible speaker and microphone configurations for creating playful and exciting interactions with spatial sounds. Our research of freeform speakers can create new possibilities for the design of various interactive surfaces.

Ubisonus: spatial freeform interactive speakers

Abstract: We present freeform interactive speakers for creating spatial sound experiences from a variety of surfaces. Traditional surround sound systems are widely used and consist of multiple electromagnetic speakers that create point sound sources within a space. Our proposed system creates directional sound and can be easily embedded into architecture, furniture and many everyday objects. We use electrostatic loudspeaker technology made from thin, flexible, lightweight and low cost materials and can be of different size and shape. In this demonstration we will show various configurations such as single speaker, speaker array and tangible speakers for playful and exciting interactions with spatial sounds. This is an example of new possibilities for the design of various interactive surfaces.

Spatial free-form interactive speakers

Abstract: An embodiment provides a free-form speaker. In an embodiment, an array type electrostatic speaker is provided. In anther embodiment, a passive element that is separate from an object including an electrode is provided. The free-form speakers are lightweight and flexible, making the speakers suitable for use in a variety of unconventional implementations. Other embodiments are described and claimed.