What are the top haptic feedback solutions for AR/VR developers to create immersive and engaging experiences?

Haptics increase the belief on digital content to treat them as real, and makes more immersive environment. XTIC at IIT Madras has built number of usecases using Haptics and XR.

For AR/VR developers aiming to create immersive experiences, top haptic feedback solutions play a pivotal role. These include wearable haptic devices like gloves and vests that provide tactile sensations, haptic actuators embedded in controllers or suits for full-body feedback, and ultrasonic haptic technology which can simulate touch sensations in mid-air. Developers can also utilize software tools and SDKs designed for haptic integration to enhance user interfaces and increase realism in virtual environments. Developers significantly boost user engagement, presence, and the overall sensory experience in AR/VR applications. Haptic is not just tactile but also sensory stimuli, neural, olfactory, somatosensory and other phygital sensors.

Having come from UX/UI in game dev my attitude is less is more with haptics. It also eats up battery life quickly so keep that in mind when you employ it. For example, the Meta Quest 3 controllers run on AA batteries. Haptics wear the batteries down quickly. Perhaps test audio cues first or couple them with short haptics cues to get the desired effects.

Though the haptic perception is 2nd sensitive part of human body following vision, unfortunately has underrated value so far. Maybe, getting haptic perception popular in users, the value of haptic will be perceptible.

The pinnacle of haptic feedback solutions lies in a spectrum of wearable devices designed to enrich immersive experiences. On the smaller end, smartwatches and haptic gloves, offer nuanced tactile sensations, allowing users to feel the texture and weight of virtual objects. These devices provide feedback with finger-level precision, bridging the gap between digital and physical interactions. Beyond small wearables, full haptic suit like the TeslaSuit DK stand out. This suit encompasses a full-body haptic system, motion capture, and biometric sensors, delivering an all-encompassing sensory experience that can replicate real-world sensations, from the pressure of a touch to the climate of an environment.

Regarding the use of wearable devices and tactile surfaces in AR/VR experiences, it's important to consider the integration of biometric sensors to enhance user immersion. For wearable devices, embedding biometric sensors such as heart rate or skin conductance sensors could allow the system to adapt the haptic feedback based on the user's emotional state, providing a more personalized and responsive experience. For example, if a user's heart rate increases during a VR horror game, the wearable could intensify the haptic feedback to match the increased tension.

Current major applications implemented haptic technology are handheld devices (ex. smartphone(of course), game controller etc.). I'm expecting AR/VR developers will create the new haptic experiences other than hand.

This past two months alone I have witnessed very impressive tactile surfaces from omnidirectional treadmills to motion tiles. Beyond floor surfaces, fingertip-mounted devices provide tactile sensations such as pressure and thermal cues to simulate contact with virtual surfaces. Microfabrication technology is being explored to deliver high-fidelity haptic feedback through elastic form factors, allowing for natural interactions with virtual environments. Mid-air haptic technologies are emerging, offering the ability to feel touch sensations without direct contact, enhancing the realism of AR/VR experiences.

Tactile surfaces redefine AR/VR immersion by adding a tangible dimension to virtual worlds. Imagine feeling the texture of grass underfoot or the resistance of virtual objects at your fingertips. These surfaces guide spatial navigation, simulate real-world scenarios for training, and elevate interactions to a multisensory adventure. With tactile feedback, users don't just see and hear virtual environments—they feel them, making AR/VR experiences truly unforgettable.

Incorporating real-time pressure sensors can enhance interactivity. This technology could allow the surfaces to not only simulate different textures but also respond to the amount of pressure applied by the user. This feedback could simulate more realistic scenarios, like the difference between walking on a soft beach sand versus a hard rocky path, adjusting the feedback intensity based on how firmly the user steps. Integrating these sensors would provide a deeper level of engagement and realism, making virtual experiences significantly more immersive and interactive

The surface texture haptic perception has been studied long time by many teams. For example, users could understand the real merchandise texture of EC beforehand if the technology realized.

Mid-air-haptic technology can release us the contact with devices. On the other hands, machine/device side need to understand users more deeply since user and machine will be independent relationship.

The vibration has been useful and most used stimulus to reproduce the haptic sensation. But the sophistication of current force feedback is not enough, the experience of force feedback will be better than now.

Seamless haptic feedback synchronization with visual and auditory cues relies on effective software integration. AI can dynamically tailor haptic responses to user interactions and environmental conditions. For instance Unity and Unreal Engine Plugins, these game development platforms provide plugins and APIs that facilitate the integration of diverse haptic feedback solutions, allowing developers to craft intricate haptic effects that deepen user immersion.

Making haptic feedback feel real in AR/VR relies on software integration. It means matching what users feel with what they see and hear. Developers must understand device abilities and design interactions that feel genuine and responsive. Good integration ensures haptic feedback adds to, not distracts from, the user's experience.