Researchers have developed Shiftly, a novel shape-shifting device providing haptic feedback for VR users.
Shiftly uses an origami structure to portray different curves, edges, and flat surfaces in seconds. Nearly 150 users tested Shiftly at a conference in Los Angeles, reporting moderate to high accuracy in emulating various shapes.
The device features three curved origami arranged in a prism-like configuration. It transitions between shapes in 0.25 to 4 seconds, creating general shapes like edges or waves.
Blindfolded volunteers distinguished between flat, edge, and convex shapes created by Shiftly. At a Los Angeles conference, users rated Shiftly's simulations, with waves scoring 5.42/7 and houses 5.29/7.
The source code is publicly available, but commercialization is not planned yet. Researchers aim to explore origami-inspired structures for haptic interfaces further, potentially attaching Shiftly to a robotic arm for design testing.