Project description
A transparent haptic interface for virtual reality applications
The EU-funded feelware project plans to dissolve the remaining technical barriers that have so far prevented the wide commercialisation of haptic interfaces for virtual reality (VR). The project will exploit a new middleware that simplifies integration between VR application and VR devices. It will refine it into a market-ready software solution designed in a modular way so that it can be independently modified and exchanged between different third-party application development environments. The transparent software module is expected to offer quick and easy interaction between the VR or human-computer interaction application and the VR device.
Objective
Virtual reality (VR) and Human-computer interaction (HCI) are becoming available industrial technologies. However, to date, they miss support for touch interaction or haptics. While there are attempts to introduce various tactile/haptic interfaces in the market, these interfaces hardly take off, arguably because of technical barriers to integrate them and develop convincing applications.
The *feelware* project will break these barriers and will ease the adoption of tactile/haptic interfaces in VR and HCI applications. *feelware* is sustained on recent research carried out in the ERC Consolidator Grant *TouchDesign*, which formulates the command of tactile/haptic interfaces as a computational design problem. This approach creates a middleware layer between the VR/HCI application and the interface device, effectively simplifying integration. The results of *TouchDesign* have been demonstrated on diverse interfaces (thimbles, exoskeletons, ultrasound arrays), showing the success to provide a unifying middleware.
The *feelware* project will aid in the setup of a market-ready software solution, which can be embedded in third-party application-development environments (e.g. game development software), and can be coupled to diverse tactile/haptic interfaces. Developers will integrate such interfaces in a modular way, and will obtain touch interaction quick and easy.
Prior to this proposal, we have verified market interest on the proposed software solution. Major global players in the software field are working on VR/HCI projects, including haptics. But they all handle device integration through dedicated, complex, low-level solutions, which do not facilitate massive adoption by application developers. Our proposed solution could play a key role in future developments. A major action in the project will be to determine the best business model (i.e. b2b or b2c), and plan further development steps accordingly.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum Pilot
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2019-PoC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
28933 Mostoles
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.