Stereo Haptics: Designing Haptic Interactions Using Audio Tools

Our hands-on studio will explore how to create meaningful haptic interactions that engage different areas of the body. Participants will gain an understanding of apparent tactile illusions, a perception of illusory motion between two areas on the body, and apply this knowledge towards generating their own haptic experiences. We will introduce participants to Stereo Haptics, a toolkit used to quickly generate haptic sensations through audio platforms with off the shelf hardware and open source software. The studio begins with an introduction to haptics, haptic technology and the illusions it can help create. Next, participants will begin experimenting with Stereo Haptics and using the toolkit to create dynamic haptic interactions. In the final section, participants will work in groups to design haptic solutions for real-life scenarios. By the end of the studio, participants will have a good understanding of tactile illusions, how to create them, and how they can be applied to enrich tangible and embodied interaction using simple stereo-sound technologies.