Proxy Haptics for Surgical Training

• Mahdi Rahmani Hanzaki University of Alberta
• Pierre Boulanger University of Alberta

Abstract

This paper propose a solution to the realism of haptic perception in VR by using the concept called ?proxy haptics.? In proxy haptics, real physical props are placed around the real environment to match their virtual counterparts. If the physical props are co-registered with the virtual world, a compelling sense of tactile sensation can be achieved. A prototype proxy haptic system was developed and a pilot study was performed to determine the effects of our system for simple surgical training tasks. Our results show that from a user perspective, our system is more believable and closer to the real world than the standard VR interface.

Keywords: Mixed Reality, Haptic, Proxy Haptic, Medical Training, Multi-modal