Remote Workstations

Haptic workstations are sophisticated devices that are designed to process the sense of touch so that you can interact with physical objects from the safety and comfort of a virtual workstation.

The science of haptics revolves around the translation of touch.   Using machinery to amplify feedback and create enhanced senses and powerful tools for perception and transmission of sensory information.  By monitoring precise neuro-muscular feedback, an operator of haptic devices can perform a variety of tasks.

Some interesting applications of haptic systems can be found in the medical field.  Virtual surgeons can literally perform operations through robotic counterparts in an entirely different country.   By guiding the controls, the surgeon can translate his knowledge and precisely trained fingertips to manipulate lasers, cutting tools and other implements of surgery at not just the level of the scalpel, but at a level of precision that could never be done by a conventional operation.   Through a magnification process, the surgeon is enabled to manipulate delicate tools that are nanometers in size, too small for fingers, but navigable by magnifying the target area and deftly placing the instruments where they are needed to assist the patient.

Other uses of haptic systems are found in applications such as remote mining, nuclear power plants and military systems.   By using haptics, the operator can use his skills with complex machinery without taking the physical risks of actually being in or with that machinery.  Through virtual immersion, haptics offer the opportunity to perform tasks which would be simply impossible otherwise.

Recreational haptic systems are increasingly found in the consumer market, primarily used for video games.   Force feedback controls with touch sensitivity are becoming increasingly common as game accessories.  Interestingly, this provides some credence to the argument that playing video games is a form of training and specialized education.    By adapting haptics at an early age, young people are unwittingly training to become machine operators, fighter pilots, and robotic engineers.

Haptics is a growing field.  Touch is one of the most important senses and now automated systems are finally taking advantage of the specialized skills of people who have particularly fine coordination.

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