Biometric
Visceral
Interface

Data Visceralization, Visual-Haptic System, Social VR

Multi-sensory Experience | 03 2019

The concept of a Biometric Visceral Interface originates from a search for an alternative to the visual presentation of biometric data. Departing from the habit brought by the spectacular society of seeing and understanding, Biometric Visceral Interfaces challenge the common practices of communication-based upon visual memory and quantified abstraction of biological phenomena. The aim of such interfaces is to extend the human perception of body information beyond visual paradigm and semiotic objects. A set of biomorphic designs of soft robotic prosthetics is introduced here to define a new human-machine interface that allows the users to have affective interpersonal communication. We describe how a multi-sensory immersive system can reconstruct a user’s body schema in virtual space and visceralize biometric data into the user’s body as a new way to perceive the presence of others.

Specs

Biometric Perception Interface

VR system

Kinect camera

Conferences & Exhibitions

International Symposium on Electronic Art, 2019 
MAT End of Year Show, 2019

System

In order to integrate the immersive visual experience to alter a user’s self-body awareness, we formulate a new system by taking the VR system as a critical factor in the design process.

Memorizer - Serves as the data computation center and control mechanism.

Choker - A wearable soft haptic actuator that is to be worn on a user’s neck

Antenna - A cable-like multi-section connecting agent that links the memorizer, the choker, the visualizer and the users.

Visualizer - Connected to the memorizer and placed on the user’s head, it serves as an entry point to immerse into the computer-mediated space. It renders and maps a virtual body onto the user to give her a perception of an alternative body presence. A visualizer supports the most recent VR technologies on the market such as HTC Vive and Oculus Rift that precise tracking is integrated to give the user a strong and responsive sense of immersion.

Collaborator

Mengyu Chen

Yin Yu

Publication

ISEA2019 Paper: Mengyu Chen, Jing Yan & Yin Yu — Biometric Visceral Interface: A Soft Robotic Immersive System for Extended Perception

User Interactions

In local mode, a visualizer and two sets of chokers and antennae, are connected to a memorizer. The two users, being physically in the same space, can sense each other via soft robotic actuation on their necks.

In network mode, a single BVI system is used by each user and each device serves as a node in the network. A connected user can wear a BVI system and remotely sense another user’s biometric signal in real-time. The computer-mediated space, in other words, becomes a social VR space where interactions are happening over the network.