Submitted by Marcia O'Malley on
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Syntacts: Open Source Framework for Audio-Controlled Vibrotactile Haptics
As vibrotactile feedback systems become increasingly commonplace, their application scenarios are becoming more complex. The haptics field has recently begun moving away from providing users with simple alert type cues to delivering salient cues rich in information. Many researchers are also now designing devices with larger numbers of tactors spatially separated across single interfaces. The design and control of these systems quickly becomes complex, especially when combined in multisensory systems. Further, integrating vibration into applications that require low latencies further increases the challenge to users. In order to lower the technical barrier to entry for users to integrate high quality, ultra-low latency vibrotactile cues into their projects we have developed Syntacts.
Syntacts is a combined software and hardware framework that allows users to use the same package from initial cue design to final implementation. The software package includes APIs to be integrated with C++, C#, or Python projects and a graphical user interface that facilitates design and iteration on cues. The hardware is a purpose-built linear amplifier board for control of eight independently controlled tactors. Syntacts fills the need for flexible implementation options so that engineers and researchers alike can incorporate complex haptics into their projects.