Haptic technology, or haptics, is a tactile feedback technology that takes advantage of a user's sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, and/or motions to the user. This mechanical stimulation may be used to assist in the creation of virtual objects (objects existing only in a computer simulation), for control of such virtual objects, and for the enhancement of the remote control of machines and devices (teleoperators). It has been described as ""(doing) for the sense of touch what computer graphics does for vision."" Although haptic devices are capable of measuring bulk or reactive forces that are applied by the user, it should not be confused with touch or tactile sensors that measure the pressure or force exerted by the user to the interface. Haptic technology has made it possible to investigate in detail how the human sense of touch works by allowing the creation of carefully controlled haptic virtual objects. These objects are used to systematically probe human haptic capabilities, which would otherwise be difficult to achieve. These new research tools contribute to the understanding of how touch and its underlying brain functions work. This book is your ultimate resource for Haptics. Here you will find the most up-to-date information, analysis, background and everything you need to know. In easy to read chapters, with extensive references and links to get you to know all there is to know about Haptics right away, covering: Haptic technology, Justin (robot), Affective Haptics, BlackBerry Storm, BlackBerry Storm 2, DualShock, Feelie, Haptic media, List of games supporting force feedback, Novint, Refreshable Braille display, Rumble Pak, Stereotaxy, Telehaptic, Virtual surgery, Volumetric Haptic Display, Wired glove, Multimodal interaction, Ambient Devices, Artificial human companion, Artificial reality, Augmented virtuality, Automatic identification and data capture, Brain implant, CICS, Collaborative information seeking, Collaborative planning software, Collaborative software, Collaborative working environment, Collaborative working system, Computer supported cooperative work, Computer-mediated reality, Dialog system, E-professional, Eye tracking, EyeTap, GVU Center at Georgia Tech, Head-mounted display, Head-up display, Heliodisplay, Human-robot interaction, Hypercollaboration, IBM 2260, I-CubeX, Interaction design, Interactive media, Interactive visualization, L-EXOS, LifeClipper, Medical CSCW, Memex, Minority Report (film), Mixed reality, Modality (human-computer interaction), Mundaneum, Office of the future, Omnidirectional treadmill, OpenIllusionist, Organizational Memory System, Pixetell, Psion Teklogix, Reality-virtuality continuum, Semantic interpretation, Sensorama, Sentient computing, Sonic interaction design, Sonification, Spoken dialog system, Videoplace, Virtual retinal display, Vuzix, W3C MMI, Z800 3DVisor This book explains in-depth the real drivers and workings of Haptics. It reduces the risk of your technology, time and resources investment decisions by enabling you to compare your understanding of Haptics with the objectivity of experienced professionals.