Reciprocal Somatic Gratification in Virtual
Environments via Conformal Transduction Arrays
Abstract
This article outlines some of the
theoretical requirements for effective VE and
teleoperated mediation of body sensations involved
in sexual stimulation, followed by a description of
a prototype we have constructed addressing a number
of these factors. Currently available devices for
genital stimulation have at most two degrees of
freedom (e.g., a dual-motor vibrator), and it is
generally left up to the user or a partner to
directly manipulate the device to achieve spatial
variations in skin contact and stimulation. It is
precisely the spatiotemporal contact variations
arising from these manipulations that need to be
recorded, transmitted, and rendered for virtual
interaction. To achieve this, we developed a system
consisting, on the one hand, of a pressure-sensing
array distributed over a probe resembling a penis.
Sensors are individually addressed, and the
complete set of signals can be digitized for
transmission across a network. The decoded signal
is then rendered through an array of actuators
distributed around an elastic sheath, corresponding
to a vagina, which reproduces the pattern of
stimulation applied to the probe. By inserting a
suitable appendage into the sheath, one can
experience what is being done to the probe. Though
this implementation provides information flow in
only one direction, it addresses a number of the
core concepts involved in making sexual interaction
possible in VEs. It thus serves as a foundation for
discussions of advanced bidirectional
body-referenced and ground-referenced interaction
modes. In this context, we discuss some of the
possible medical, therapeutic, and recreational
applications of such genital haptic interfaces.
Keywords
Haptic interface, physiological measurement, sex
therapy, spatiotemporal stimulation, tactile
stimulator, teledildonics, telesex, cybersex.
1 Theoretical Background
2 System Analysis
3 Technological considerations
4 Prototype construction
5 Future work
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