The quality of today’s visual and acoustic presentation requires little improvement even on home- or office computers. Haptic interaction is usually limited to using a keyboard and mouse. In research and development as well as design applications however force feedback devices are already in use. These devices aren't suitable for general applications though. It is desirable to replicate the impression of touching an objects surface in a simple manner, without using tools that limit the possible range of perception. There are currently only a few selected prototypes that recreate single stimuli of tactile perception, and no devices that offer an integrated representation across several channels.

This project aims to use the core capabilities of the partnered institutes for the development of a tactile display. This display will address more than one channel of tactile perception through different stimuli. Apart from the micro/precision mechanics, the necessary controls are subjects of research in this project. Identifying equivalence classes, similar to established RGB based color display techniques, and constructing a sensor capable of measuring stimuli from as many of these classes as possible is subject of this project too.