Blogs

Haptics

Virtual reality (VR) is growing, something that is evident here at CES. But the growth in VR as a technology also provides new opportunities for those who provide supporting systems for tech like VR. One of the key challenges with VR is the ability of users to “feel” their way through simulations and experiences, by interacting with their virtual environment and receiving haptic feedback through force applied to individual fingers. This is normally done via devices worn on each hand, and the approach taken to implement this technology has been seen at CES to be varied – from significantly expensive to relatively lightweight and cheap exoskeletons.

CES has shown that with time, these systems are maturing into usable technology. If we consider how this could be applied to our customers, the training space could be considered a priority. Having the ability for a user to work through a complex series of steps in VR only enhances that experience. Recall of those processes and the building of muscle memory provide an edge to the user when it comes to needing to carry out those tasks in the real world. This year, vendors have been keen to state that their haptic devices, and the experiences they provide, will continue to improve to a point where the devices of today ultimately move to a glove-like technology seen in films such as Ready Player One.

Display Technology

There have been many different levels of screen technology advancements on show this year. From large TV displays, such as Samsung’s ‘Wall’ or LG’s curved archway, to small handheld devices and a real emphasis on 8K TV (16 times picture quality of regular High Definition TVs). What’s more interesting to us, is the use of clever materials. Foldable mobile phones made a debut last year, but were not particularly successful during demonstrations. Those issues appear to be solved now, so we are seeing this technology applied further one example being a foldable laptop from Lenovo,– which we were given exclusive access to.

The structure of displays is also changing in thickness and less is now needed to perform tasks to their fullest. With the shift to screens that are as thin as cardboard, integration into clothing as ‘worn flexible displays’ becomes feasible and the use cases become more expansive.  For example, a screen could be fitted to clothing which then display personal or mission-specific data, removing the need to carry yet another device but also potentially allowing for more data processing in the field.

Mike Sewart, Director for Research, Experimentation and Innovation joins me in the video below, to talk about the day in technology.

Check back tomorrow for our last daily roundup of this show.