The Human Touch
Sensory Design

The Gallery at VCUarts, Qatar, 2021

The Human Touch project is an innovative approach to enhancing virtual reality experiences by incorporating tactile sensations. The project involved connecting a real exhibition room at VCU university to a virtual reality environment, and incorporating touch sensors at four points in the space.

Design:
The design of the Human Touch project focused on creating a seamless integration between the real and virtual environments, to provide a more immersive experience for users. The touch sensors were carefully calibrated to correspond to the same location in both the real and virtual environments, allowing for accurate translation of tactile sensations.

In addition to touch sensors, the project also incorporated visual and auditory elements to further enhance the user experience. The sound and visual outcomes were designed to correspond to the touch sensations, creating a multi-sensory experience for the user.

The construction of the Human Touch project involved a combination of hardware and software components. The touch sensors were connected to pedestals and the ground in the real environment, and calibrated to correspond to the virtual environment.

The virtual environment was created using specialized software that allowed for real-time translation of touch sensations into visual and auditory feedback. The software also allowed for customization of the visual and auditory outcomes, to create a personalized experience for each user.

The Human Touch project represents an innovative approach to enhancing virtual reality experiences, by incorporating tactile sensations. By connecting a real exhibition room to a virtual environment, and incorporating touch sensors and multi-sensory feedback, the project provides a more immersive and engaging experience for users. The project has the potential to be applied in a wide range of contexts, from entertainment to education and beyond.