Hiroo Iwata

This paper proposes a new system architecture that includes human action. The system is composed of three parts; sensing, processing, and actuation. Based on the concept, a virtual museum with a spatial immersive display and a locomotion interface was developed. It provides a physical walking experience in the virtual exhibition space. We developed a digital twin of the Artizon Museum as the system’s content. The locomotion interface records the walking trajectory of the participant, which represents their action in the virtual exhibition space. The system was implemented and operated in public for four weeks.

This paper introduces Art Sensorium Project that is founded in Asia AI Institute of Musashino University. A main target of the project is to design and implement a system architecture of unified art collections for virtual art experiences. To provide art experiences, a projection-based VR system, called Data Sensorium, is used to stage art materials in a form of real-sized virtual reality. Furthermore, a system architecture of a multidatabase system for heterogeneous art collection archives is presented, so a set of integrated art data is applied to Data Sensorium for newly generated art experiences.

When presented with asymmetric vibrations, humans experience an illusory force, similar to the sensation of being pulled in a particular direction. A pulling illusion has also been used in new display elements for a virtual reality content and a pedestrian navigation system. However, the basic design of asymmetric vibration stimuli that can induce this illusion has not yet been determined. In particular, it is unclear as to which part of the vibration waveform should be asymmetric to induce an illusion. To better understand the design of asymmetric vibration stimuli that can induce a pulling illusion, we evaluated the effect of the illusion corresponding to the waveform deformation due to a change in phase difference of asymmetric-vibration frequency components. The results of a psychophysical experiment demonstrate that when the phase differences of the fundamental and second harmonic waves of the asymmetric vibration are close to 0 degrees or -180 degrees, the illusion is more likely to occur. This result implies that the difference in the rate by which the acceleration changes at each polarity contributes to the illusion.

<p>This study proposes a semi-voluntarily motion presentation system based on the force applied to the arm swing mechanism in a locomotion interface (LI) that can present arm swing motion in addition to foot motion during walking. It is considered that the device can be operated by using the force of the arm swing even when the user cannot move the foot voluntarily. We performed a comparative experiment of walking with the automatic method and walking with the proposed method. As a result, it was confirmed that there was a difference in the rotation angle of the body, and the usefulness of the semi-automatic LI that moves by swinging the arm was confirmed.</p>

<p>Generally, when operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in remote places, an operator watches images captured by a camera attached to the UAV and operates them with a controller. However, the operator cannot feel as if he is moving as a UAV. Walking is the most innate locomotion strategy in the real world for us. Therefore, in order to generate feelings as if walking in remote places by his/her own feet, it is sufficient to operate the UAV by using operator's walking motion. In this research, we use a locomotion interface named Torus Treadmill. By using this interface, the operator can walk infinitely to any directions. In addition, since the operator is maintained his/her position on the interface, grounded devices such as haptic devises or medical equipment can be used at the same time. In this study, we developed a prototype system and confirmed that the UAV can arrive to target positions by operating with operator's walking motion.</p>

This document describes the history and future prospects of the Virtual Reality Society ofJapan. The society runs unique events including International collegiate Virtual Reality Contest andqualification tests for VR technology. The load map of VR for 2040 was drawn up in 2013.

This paper describes a development of indirect force feedback system, which consists of a mouse pointer, and a 2-degree of freedom (DOF) pantograph haptic interface. The 2DOF interface consists of four-bar linkage, mouse sensor to the pointing, and computer graphics image display. The interface can display only vertical force to a user's hand. This interface separates the pointing area, which is at the fingertip, from force feedback area, which is on the ball of the thumb of the user, even though they are on one point in ordinary haptic interface. It was verified that users could feel as if they were touching virtual objects through an evaluation test.

This paper presents a locomotion interface using torus-shaped treadmill. Traveling on foot is the most intuitive way for locomotion. An infinite surface driven by actuators is an ideal device for creation of sense of walking. The Torus Treadmill employs 14 sets of treadmills. These treadmills are connected side-by-side and driven in perpendicular direction. The effect of infinite surface is generated by the motion of the treadmills. The walker can go in any direction while his/her position remains localized in the real world. The device has modular structure that enables portability for exhibition. It was exhibited in Ars Electronica 2011 in Linz Austria

This paper describes a Pseudo-Haptic rendering method for presenting torsional torques with a haptic interface. The pseudo-haptic torque is calculated based on a motion equation of a virtual object, which includes a viscous resistance when the virtual object is rotated. We have developed a one degree-of-freedom haptic interface equipped with a DC servomotor and a rotary encoder as a prototype system. Through experiments for comparing the pseudo-haptic rendering method, real haptic method, and, combination of these haptic rendering methods, effectiveness of the proposed method was verified.

This paper describes development of a system, which enables a user to touch a remote object in real time. The system consists of an electric camera platform and a 1DOF handheld haptic interface. The camera platform is equipped with a laser range finder. The handheld interface can generate reaction force proportional to distance measured by using the camera platform that rotates synchronously with the interface. Validity of this system was confirmed through experiments and questionnaires.

This paper describes haptic rendering methods for a 1-degree of freedom haptic interface. When rendering a shape like a cube, which has side surfaces perpendicular to the ground, the user's fingertip is forced to move rapidly upwards with the interface. Sometimes this may cause an unwanted vibration and make the user feel uncomfortable. In this study, force limit method and a haptic slant method were proposed to overcome this incongruity. By using the prototype system, the effectiveness of those methods is evaluated through experiments.

This paper describes development of an anchorless 2 Degree of Freedom haptic interface using a pantograph manipulator for presenting 2-dimentional shapes of virtual objects. The interface consists of a haptic pantograph interface and a personal computer that displays images of a virtual environment. This haptic interface has a finger hole that holds a user's index fingertip and has very small movable area. However the interface is not fixed on a desk so that the interface itself can be moved by the user's hand. When the user aims to touch a place out of the interface's working area, the user can touch there by moving the interface. Through experiments, the effectiveness of the interface, which can present shapes of huge virtual objects, is shown.

Robot Tile is one of the circulating field types of Locomotion interface which consists of five Omni-directional moveable robots. The user can keep walking in any direction with this device while it is in the place. An immersive projection display named the Rear Dome consists of a spherical rear projection screen and eight projectors. The Rear Dome can project omnidirectional images on the screen. A user can see the omnidirectional image inside the screen. We integrated the Robot Tile and the Rear Dome, and conducted the evaluation experiment.

This paper presents a work carried out for a project to develop a new interactive technique that combines haptic sensation with computer graphics. The project has two goals. The first one is to provide users with a spatially continuous surface on which they can effectively touch an image using any part of their bare hand, including the palm. The second is to present visual and haptic sensation simultaneously by using a single device that doesn't oblige the users to wear any equipment. In order to achieve these goals, we have developed balloon array volumetric haptic display named Volflex. The Volflex, however, has small range of displayed volume. In this paper, we focus on expanding the ability to present varied shape of virtual object from flat surface to volumetric surface. We designed a new volumetric haptic display named Volflex+. It is composed of a group of air balloons controlled by air cylinders. Each air cylinder is attached to a linear actuator so that each balloon is able to move up/down. This configuration drastically expands presented volume..

Device art is a new concept of art that shows essence of technology. Works of device art are often created in bottom-up process. The Device Art Toolkit is a tool for creation of these works. It is intended to achieve usability as well as scalability. The toolkit has modular structure consisting of control modules, input modules, output modules and communication modules. It also has actuator modules. The structure enables easy try-and-error in creation process.

This paper reports Deviceart Archive, which the authors has been developing, and qualitative analysis using interview videos with some Deviceart artists and researchers. Deviceart Archive records and presents interview videos in which the artists talked about the concept of their artworks for the exhibition "Deviceart Garelly" at The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), and the videos recorded at Deviceart symposiums. This style is similar to citation system of online academic journal repositories.