Survey of Haptic Technology and Entertainment Applications

When someone thinks of gaming entertainment, they think of many gaming outlets such as PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and more. All those different gaming systems accomplish one common task: to entertain the user. A particular system such as Oculus Quest or virtual reality (VR) accomplishes the goal of entertainment, and its applications are used in different fields such as the health field, the real estate market, and even the automobile industry. Virtual reality is a three-dimensional (3D) computer simulation that portrays the real world in a digital realm in which the user can interact within that virtual space. Haptic technology interface provides a sense of touch as feedback. Both virtual reality and haptic technology can enhance users' experience and enrich their source of entertainment. Virtual reality has evolved in the entertainment industry from interacting within a bulky machine to a more portable and personalized experience such as the use of a haptic suit, which provides haptic feedback and further helps the user feel more immersed. Various technologies have been used to improve or promote user inclusiveness and experience, including haptic feedback, which allows the user to feel a reaction - whether it's low haptic feedback (vibration) or high feedback (intense application of force on the user's muscles). The purpose of this paper is to survey recent and innovative applications such as haptic feedback and how it applies to various domains such as virtual reality. Another aspect that will be investigated is the specific framework that provides plausible special effects for the end-user. Result show that haptic technology enhances the virtual reality experience.