DEVELOPMENTS IN TACTILE DISPLAYS

IEE Colloquium, 23 January, 1997

Tactile displays have for a long time been the domain of developments for the
visually impaired. Whilst this is still important, in recent years the field
has expanded to include potential uses in virtual reality. The idea of being
able to send and receive the sensation of touch, as well as those of sound
and vision, via a communication link has attracted a lot of attention.
Applications include remote surgery, fabric recognition - and even the
ability to "feel" your new car without entering the showroom!! 

The technology for tactile recognition is in its infancy. Demonstrators and
commercial displays have been made, but these remain crude, and expensive,
first generation products. This colloquium will address all the latest
developments in this rapidly expanding field, and anyone who wishes to
contribute to the meeting should, in the first instance, send a 100-200 word
abstract to the organiser:

Dr. David Wood
University of Durham
School of Engineering
South Road, Durham
DH1 3LE
0191 374 2564
0191 374 7492 fax
david.wood@durham.ac.uk

Contributions by 30 September, 1996.