Touch in Virtual Environments: Haptics and the Design of Interactive Systems

Haptics, the science of virtual touch, is the newest frontier in VR interface development. Modeling tactile features such as shape, texture, and density, haptics offers broad simulation applications for training, entertainment, and assistive technologies for the disabled. Touch in Virtual Environments: Haptics and the Design of Interactive Systems brings together the latest research in this emerging field.

Margaret McLaughlin is a professor of Communication at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California, a Key Investigator at USC's Integrated Media Systems Center, and Principal Investigator for the USC Interactive Art Museum.

João Hespanha is an assistant professor of Electrical Engineering-Systems and a Key Investigator at USC's Integrated Media Systems Center. He earned his Ph.D. at Yale and has published more than 60 articles on hybrid systems, feedback control, game theory, and haptics.

Gaurav Sukhatme is an assistant professor of Computer Science at USC, Associate Director of the Robotics Research Laboratory, and Key Investigator at the Integrated Media Systems Center.