Researcher Danqing Liu has been awarded 939,619 euros from the NWO Open Technology Programme (OTP) to improve the interaction between people and technology through haptics - the science of touch. Her project Harmonizing Haptics: Liquid Crystal-Enhanced Human-Machine Interactions focuses on developing wearables that provide tactile feedback thanks to liquid-crystal polymers.
The aim of this research is to improve blind and visually impaired people's navigation of everyday life. The project is a collaboration between two research groups within the department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry . Together with co-applicant Ghislaine Vantomme, Liu forms an interdisciplinary team to further develop this innovative technology.
Haptics: interaction through touch
Even though we're constantly tapping, sliding and swiping on our smartphones and tablets, a lot of interaction with contemporary technology is limited to visual interfaces. The sense of touch often remains underutilized, even though touch is an essential sense for understanding the world around us. That used to be different: in decades past, we used levers, sliders, buttons and switches to communicate with machines.
Nowadays, these physical interfaces have often been replaced by virtual screens, which sometimes makes interaction less intuitive. According to Liu, this shift not only leads to dissatisfaction among users, but can even contribute toto more serious concerns like depression.
A bracelet that gently squeezes
"This OTP project aligns with our broader efforts to create materials and devices that enhance human interaction through touch", Liu explains. "These wearables, made from liquid crystal polymers, can take the form of rings, bracelets, or necklaces, offering a seamless and intuitive way to convey tactile feedback."
"Think of signals such as gentle pinching or shear forces (for example, the feeling of a finger sliding over a surface). This technology not only offers new possibilities for virtual and augmented reality, but also practical applications for people with visual impairments."
Liquid crystal polymers combine properties of both liquids and solids. They can change shape or move in response to external stimuli, such as heat or electric current. As a hypothetical example, a wearable could give a subtle 'tap' when a cup of coffee is almost full when poured, or indicate the proximity of an obstacle.
Protoype for the visually impaired
Liu's research will initially focus on applications for the blind and visually impaired. She wants to make a prototype that can assist in complex situations such as heavy traffic "With the support of the OTP grant, we will recruit PhDs and postdoctoral researchers to advance the development of innovative materials and create a functional demonstrator designed to assist blind individuals in navigating daily life", she says.
What are haptics?
Haptics is the science of touch. It is about how humans (and other living things) perceive and process information through tactile stimuli. This involves not only feeling textures, shapes and temperatures, but also the perception of force, vibration and movement.
Touchscreens have made interaction with technology more accessible, but lack the direct response that physical buttons provide. Many devices today therefore offer the option of providing so-called haptic feedback, for example in the form of slight vibrations.
An everyday example would be the 'taps' you sometimes feel when writing text on your smartphone.this happens thanks to a simple vibrating motor, which is also responsible for vibrating the phone during an incoming call. Depending on the user's preferences, these vibrations can be turned off.
Danqing Liu's Human Interactive Materials research group focuses on human interaction with technology through advanced materials, while the Macro-Organic Chemistry group of Ghislaine Vantomme specializes in organic synthesis and molecular assembly.
"I am very excited by this grant, as it will strengthen our collaboration", says Vantomme. "Our groups bridge the gap between molecules and devices. By combining our expertise, we can further push the boundaries of applied scientific research."
About the NWO Open Technology Programme
NWO's Open Technology Programme funds applied technical-scientific research that transcends disciplinary boundaries. The programme stimulates collaborations with scientific and social impact. 5.4 million euros is available from OTP, 920,000 of which comes from the business community and other organizations. For researcher Liu, it is the third NWO grant she has been awarded.
