Touchable Universe from Anarkik3D on Vimeo.
Haptics is the sensation of virtual touch. In 2008, with a SMART Award, Anarkik3D developed a prototype platform to facilitate the integration of 3D haptic technology into software programmes. The potential for developing and expanding the platform to enable developers to combine haptics with the API's of other software and hardware such the sensations of sound, stereovision, virtual and augmented reality, physics as effects such as collision and magnetism has been exciting and alluring, requiring the right team, expertise and funding to first of all assess feasibility and market appeal and to then develop it properly and thoroughly.
In 2014 this came together with the opportunity to submit a proposal to Innovate UK for funding for feasibility projects in their Learning Technologies competition. In a collaboration with 2 other owners of micro businesses that Ann Marie Shillito brought together Anarkik3D put in a bid for Stage 1 funding and was successful. The project was completed in April this year and this video was made for our end of project presentation with footage from when we tested the appeal of haptics and VR with school children and teachers.
Anarkik3D was then invited to submit a proposal for stage 2 funding to take the results of the feasibility project and develop A-Frame to beta stage, proving its capability by using it to build 2 hapticated learning programmes and rigorously testing them in schools under exam conditions. With the original collaboration team expanded to 4 (2 in Edinburgh, one in Fife and one in Staffordshire) we submitted a bid for Stage 2 Funding. New 1 year projects start on November 1st 2015 .
