Haptics: Haptics Applications

Mankind has always dreamt of escaping reality, and this will only be possible through the use of new technologies. According to Greek legend, when Daedalus and his young son Icarus were trapped within the Labyrinth that Daedalus had built, Icarus did not escape by finding an exit through trial and error or going through the walls; he escaped by taking to the sky using a set of wings constructed by his father. He escaped through the use of new technology. Overwhelmed with the excitement of the feeling of flying, Icarus went too high. By flying too close to the sun, the heat melted the wax that held his wings together, and he fell into the sea. Indeed, technology can be pushed too far! Escaping reality using technology, while keeping in touch with reality, is the fantasy some visionaries are trying to achieve. Some of these visionaries work on haptic audiovisual environments (HAVEs).