DEMO
Yanjun Chen, Jung-Hwan Youn, and Craig Shultz
We present a hands-on virtual reality demonstration of a compact finger-worn haptic device that delivers rich contact force cues while keeping the fingerpad unobstructed. Using differential actuation on the two sides of the fingertip, the device can generate both normal and shear sensations during interaction with virtual objects, enabling more natural touch while preserving direct contact at the fingerpad. The demonstration includes three interactive scenarios designed to highlight different aspects of contact perception in VR. First, users can explore tunable virtual buttons with varying stiffness levels, as well as a clicky button that mimics the snap-through feel of a mechanical switch. Second, users can slide across virtual surfaces to experience curvature and slope cues, showing how differential actuation supports the perception of shape and surface orientation. Third, the system demonstrates how edge-based fingertip stimulation can provide expressive and localized haptic feedback in a lightweight wearable form factor. Together, these interactions illustrate a practical approach to delivering rich, unobtrusive, and immersive fingertip haptics for virtual reality applications, and highlight the potential of edge-based stimulation for future wearable interfaces that support more realistic object interaction and touch perception in digital environments.