Feel the Pressure: E-learning Systems with Haptic Feedback

Involving students in the learning process has been a challenge for educators for many years. Multimodal virtual environments where visual, auditory and haptic stimulus is present may convey information in a more naturalistic fashion since the user manipulates and experiences the environment through multiple sensory channels. We present a novel E-learning system that incorporates a multimodal haptic simulator. The haptic simulator facilitates student understanding of difficult concepts (e.g. physics concepts) and has the potential to augment or replace traditional laboratory instruction with an interactive interface offering enhanced motivation, retention and intellectual stimulation.