Immersive Multimodal Interactive Presence: (Springer Series on Touch and Haptic Systems)

Immersive Multimodal Interactive Presence presents advanced interdisciplinary approaches that connect psychophysical and behavioral haptics research with advances in haptic technology and haptic rendering. It delivers a summary of the results achieved in the IMMERSENCE European project and includes selected chapters by international researchers. Organized into two parts: I. Psychophysical and Behavioral Basis and II. Technology and Rendering, it is an excellent example of interdisciplinary research directed towards the advancement of multimodal immersive virtual environments with particular focus on haptic interaction. The twelve chapters of the book are grouped around three different scenarios representing different types of interactions in virtual environments: Person-Object (PO), Person-Object-Person (POP) and Person-Person (PP) interaction. Recent results of psychophysical and behavioral studies are reported along with new technological developments for haptic displays and novel haptic rendering techniques.

Table of Contents:
Introduction.- Part I: Psychophysical and Behavioral Basis.- Active Movement Reduces the Tactile Discrimination Performance.- Weight Perception with Real and Virtual Weights using Unimanual and Bimanual Precision Grip.- The Image of Touch: Construction of Meaning and Task Performance in Virtual Environments.- Psychological Experiments in Haptic Collaboration Research.- Human-Robot Adaptive Control of Object-oriented Action.- Cooperative Physical Human-Human and Human-Robot Interaction.- Part II: Technology and Rendering.- Data-Driven Visuo-Haptic Rendering of Deformable Bodies.- Haptic Rendering Methods for Multiple Contact Points.- Artificially Rendered Cutaneous Cues for a New Generation of Haptic Displays.- Social Haptic Interaction with Virtual Characters.- FMRI Compatible Sensing Glove for Hand Gesture Monitoring.- Improving Human-Computer Cooperation through Haptic Role Exchange and Negotiation.- Index.

Review :
“This book undoubtedly delivers on the foundation elements of the virtual-human immersive, interactive presence. Readers will find that the book will generate interest to ask questions about new products, new approachs and new methods that need more research. Immersive Multimodal Interactive Presence delivers on the basics as a true introduction and provides a solid understanding of the issues involved.” (Jeff Thurston, 3dvisworld.com, November, 2013)