Real Virtuality: making the virtual, physical

屏幕和扬声器可以为虚拟“对象”提供一种体现。虽然这些在提供物体的感觉方面是有效的，但它们在其余的感觉中没有提供具体化：触觉，嗅觉和味觉。 在这个项目中，我们研究使用机器人技术来模拟虚拟物体的物理存在。当“观众”伸出手去触摸所讨论的对象时，系统计算用户手指和虚拟对象的交叉点，并将机器人手臂放置在该点上。温度、纹理和位置的调制能够模拟各种物理对象。 这有可能改变物理对象的设计和生产方式。今天，制成品的设计过程是一系列的迭代，从在Autodesk软件中构建3D模型开始，然后制造原型进行评估和改进。这是昂贵的、耗时的、浪费的，并且对环境不敏感。相反，我们建议使设计团队能够与数字创作进行物理交互。他们可以简单地伸出手去触摸它，感受它的边缘，它的轮廓和它微妙的设计元素。

Screens and speakers can provide a kind of embodiment for virtual 'objects'. While these are effective at providing a sense of the object, they stop short of providing embodiment in the remaining senses: touch, smell, and taste. n this project, we examine the use of robotics technology to simulate the physical presence of a virtual object. When the "viewer" reaches out to touch the object in question, the system calculates the point of intersection of the user's finger and the virtual object, and places a robotic arm at that point. Modulation of temperature, texture, and position are able to simulate a variety of physical objects. This has the potential to transform the way in which physical objects are designed and produced. Today, the design process of manufactured goods is a series iterations beginning with construction of a 3D model in Autodesk's software, then the fabrication of prototypes to be evaluated and improved upon. This is costly, time consuming, wasteful, and not environmentally sensitive. Instead, we propose to enable design teams to physically interact with a digital creation. They can simply reach-out and touch it, feel its edges, its contours, and its subtle design elements.