14 DAY TRIAL // In what might be one of the absolute coolest science experiments of the year, researchers used ultrasound to create the shape of a virtual sphere that could easily be felt and explored relying on one's sense of touch alone.
What's more, the scientists say that, with the help of a container of run-of-the-mill oil, they also made it possible for plenty of other three-dimensional shapes created using ultrasound to be seen.
The experiments, carried out by brainiacs with UK's University of Bristol, are detailed in a paper in the journal ACM Transactions on Graphics. They are expected to forever transform gaming experiences and even medicine.
Using ultrasound to create 3D shapes
Writing in the journal ACM Transactions on Graphics, the scientists behind this research project explain that their experiments boiled down to using ultrasound, defined as an oscillating sound pressure wave, to birth air disturbances.
The researchers go on to detail that, to put together their invisible sphere, their created several complex ultrasound patterns and then focused them in such ways that, when combined, the air disturbances caused by them formed the three-dimensional shape.
When participants in this study were asked to explore these air disturbances using their hands alone, they had no trouble distinguishing the shape of the sphere. Thus, their sense of touch alone was more than enough to help them identify the invisible shape.
“The user perceives a discernible haptic [tactile-induced] shape when the corresponding acoustic interference pattern is generated above a precisely controlled two-dimensional phased array of ultrasound transducers,” the scientists explain.
Interestingly enough, the researchers say that it's not just spheres that can be created by focusing complex ultrasound patterns. On the contrary, cubes and plenty of other three-dimensional shapes can be birthed in the same manner.
Revealing invisible ultrasound-induced shapes
To prove that their experiments weren't just one big hoax, the University of Bristol scientists decided to go the extra mile and turned to a container of oil to show that ultrasound can in fact be used to create shapes that are invisible to the naked eye but that can be felt.
As shown in the video below, they directed complex ultrasound patterns at oil. The shapes that formed pushed down on the oil and were thus revealed. Mind you, the scientists even had some fun creating all sorts of shapes and making them interact with one another.
Potential uses of this technology
The University of Bristol researchers imagine that at some point in the not-too-distant future this technology will make it possible to develop new games that engage a person's sense of touch. For instance, regular folks might get to play with balls created using ultrasound.
Even more interesting, they argue that this use for ultrasound could allow surgeons to feel a three-dimensional tumor replica before moving on to operate on the actual abnormal tissue growth. This would surely improve the outcome of such interventions.
Lastly, the brainiacs imagine combining this technology with holographic visuals and creating holograms that can not only be seen but also felt. Just think of Iron Man to get a better idea of what they have in mind.
“Touchable holograms, immersive virtual reality that you can feel and complex touchable controls in free space, are all possible ways of using this system,” says Dr. Ben Long with the Bristol Interaction and Graphics group in the University's Department of Computer Science.
