TECHTILE toolkit- A prototyping tool for designing haptic media Kouta Minamizawa
KMD, Keio University
kouta@tachilab.org

Yasuaki Kakehi
SFC, Keio University
ykakehi@sfc.keio.ac.jp

Figure 1: TECHTILE toolkit

Masashi Nakatani
SDM, Keio University
nakatani@tachilab.org

Soichiro Mihara
YCAM InterLab
mhrs@ycam.jp

Figure 2: Real-time haptic sharing

Susumu Tachi
KMD, Keio University
tachi@tachilab.org

Figure 3: Recorded haptic video

Figure 4: TECHTILE workshops“TECHTILE” is a fundamental concept by combining“TECHnology” with “tacTILE” perception/expression. Our aim
is to disseminate the haptic technologies as the third media in
the field of art, design, and education and extends theconventional “multi-media” which consists of visual information
and auditory information.
There has been various haptic devices proposed so far, but mostof them are still in emerging stage. To attract the interest ofpotential users of haptics such as designers, educators, andstudents, it is necessary to provide easy-to-make and easy-to-use
haptic device. We then developed an introductory haptic device
called "TECHTILE toolkit".
In designing the toolkit, the most important point is that thetoolkit can be used in favorite method for non-professional users.
We then focused on the conventional method on auditory media.
The sources of auditory sensation and tactile sensation are thesame; vibration of an object generates a sequence of vibration of
the air and perceived as sound, on the other hand, if the object
were touched directly, it would be perceived as tactile sensation.
When we create audio contents, we use microphone andspeakers. The auditory sensation is recorded as a sequence ofsound wave and we can easily edit using sound editors. If wewant to share the audio contents on Internet, we can upload
audio files (mp3, wmv, wav etc.) on YouTube or other contentsharing websites.
Current version of the toolkit (Figure 1) composed of a haptic
recorder (microphone), haptic reactors (small voice-coilactuators), and a signal amplifier that is optimized to present not
only the zone of audibility (30-20000Hz) but also low frequency(less than 30Hz) vibrotactile sensation. Although this toolkit isintuitive to use and can be developed with low cost, it candeliver even higher-realistic haptic sensation than many otherconventional haptic devices.
Project website: http://techtile.org/

Copyright is held by the author / owner(s).
SIGGRAPH 2012, Los Angeles, California, August 5 – 9, 2012.
ISBN 978-1-4503-1435-0/12/0008

For example, if the user want to deliver the haptic sensation of“pouring liquid in a cup”, they just need to attach the haptic
recorder on the bottom of a cup, and the haptic reactor on thebottom of another cup using scotch tape as shown in Figure 2.
Then when they pour liquid in the cup with haptic recorder, thehaptic sense from the liquid would be copied to another cup in
real-time. It is also possible to record the haptic signal as anaudio track of movie file through the USB port of the toolkit,
and playback with video and sound as shown in Figure 3. It
means that you can upload your original haptic contents on
YouTube or Ustream to share the haptic content all over theworld.
We are currently holding a series of workshops in universities
and science museums as shown in figure 4, so that we haveconfirmed that this device is suitable as an educational tool forlearning possible applications of haptic design. The attendees,
aged from 6 to 50’s, could easily understand how-to-use thetoolkit in just 10 minutes. After that, they can create their
original haptic artworks using their personal belongings such as
papers, crayons, scissors, umbrellas, sandals and so on.
In SIGGRAPH 2012 emerging technologies, we will
demonstrate some examples of real-time haptic transmission,
recorded haptic videos, and also we will hold rapid hands-onworkshops in our booth to show the essence of this toolkit.

Acknowledgment

This project is supported by JST-CREST Haptic Media projectand Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media. And this e-techdemonstration is supported by Prix Emerging Technologies
award in Laval Virtual 2012.

References

MINAMIZAWA, K., KAKEHI, Y., NAKATANI, M., MIHARA, S., AND
TACHI, S. 2012. TECHTILE toolkit - A prototyping tool for
design and education of haptic media. In Proceedings ofACM VRIC 2012, Laval, France.