Current-based force input / output control for novel haptic interaction using the inFORCE shape display

Thesis: M. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2018.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 54-57).Shape changing interfaces have been become influential in the field of human-computer interaction. Their purpose is to give digital data a physical and tangible form, allowing for richer depths of interaction. However, though shape changing interfaces have generally been excellent in allowing digital data to take a tangible form, they have yet been unable to simulate many sorts of higher dimensions of the data. We propose inFORCE as an extension upon current generation shape displays. inFORCE is a force-responsive shape display with the ability for force input and output. This force-responsive capability opens up novel and exciting methods of haptic interaction. We developed a current-based force-sensing method using inFORCE without the use of force sensors. With this, we develop various applications of the inFORCE system, including object materiality emulation, multi-dimensional data representation, musical instrument simulation, and more. Lastly, we provide a framework for the flexible development of new applications using the inFORCE system.by Zhiyao (John) Ma.M. Eng