The IEEE Transactions on Haptics (ToH) is a quarterly journal that publishes archival research results related to the science, technology and applications associated with information acquisition and object manipulation through touch. Read the full scope of ToH
From the October-December 2011 Issue...
Tactile and Haptic Illusions
By Susan J. Lederman and Lynette A. Jones
This paper surveys the research literature on robust tactile and haptic illusions. The illusions are organized into two categories. The first category relates to objects and their properties, and is further differentiated in terms of haptic processing of material versus geometric object properties. The second category relates to haptic space, and is further differentiated in terms of the observer's own body versus external space. The illusions are initially described and where possible addressed in terms of their functional properties and/or underlying neural processes. The significance of these illusions for the design of tactile and haptic displays is also discussed. We conclude by briefly considering a number of important general themes that have emerged in the materials surveyed.
Listen to the ToH Podcast: Interview with Guest Editor Allison Okamura
This interview features a discussion between AE Federico Barbagli and Allison Okamura, one of the guest editors of the Special Section on Haptics in Medicine and Clinical Skill Acquisition in the July-September 2011 issue, about how this special section came about and the six chosen papers.
Listen to the ToH Podcast: Interview with the Authors of "The Role of Haptics in Medical Training Simulators: A Survey of the State of the Art".
AE Federico Barbagli interviews Timothy R. Coles, Dwight Meglan, and Nigel W. John, authors of "The Role of Haptics in Medical Training Simulators: A Survey of the State of the Art" from the January-March 2011 issue, where they discuss the purpose and benefits of medical training simulators.
Listen to the ToH Podcast: World Haptics Spotlight Section
In this interview, AE Federico Barbaglia and Lynette Jones, one of the Guest Editors of the World Haptics Spotlight Section in the July-September 2010 issue, discuss the five papers featured in this issue.
Listen to the ToH Podcast: Review of Designs for Haptic Data Visualization
AE Federico Barbagli Interviews Sabrina Paneels and Jonathan C. Roberts, authors of "Review of Designs for Haptic Data Visualization" from the April-June 2010 issue, where they define the field of haptic data visualization, give examples of its application, and discuss the motivation for their work.
A word from the Editor-in-Chief, J. Edward Colgate
This paper surveys the research literature on robust tactile and haptic illusions. The illusions are organized into two categories. The first category relates to objects and their properties, and is further differentiated in terms of haptic processing of material versus geometric object properties. The second category relates to haptic space, and is further differentiated in terms of the observer's own body versus external space. The illusions are initially described and where possible addressed in terms of their functional properties and/or underlying neural processes. The significance of these illusions for the design of tactile and haptic displays is also discussed. We conclude by briefly considering a number of important general themes that have emerged in the materials surveyed.
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