Touch of realism for 3D modellers

Virtalis has just been appointed as the UK's reseller of SensAble's Phantom range of haptic devices.

Virtalis has just been appointed as the UK's reseller of SensAble's Phantom range of haptic devices.

These make it possible for users to design, touch and manipulate virtual objects.

Andrew Connell, Technical Director at Virtalis, commented: "This agreement is very important to us, as we can now provide our clients with another dimension for their virtual models".

Just as the computer monitor enables users to see images and audio speakers allow users to hear sounds, Phantom devices make it possible for users to touch and manipulate virtual objects.

The SensAble haptic devices and toolkits are used for applications such as medical simulation, virtual training, geophysics, robotics, teleoperations, assembly path planning, molecular modelling and nanomanipulation.

Different models in the Phantom product line meet the varying needs of both commercial and research customers.

The new, entry-level Phantom Omni haptic device allows designers and modellers to use their sense of touch to understand the solidity and surface qualities of their designs.

The Ghost SDK (General Haptic Open Software Toolkit) is a C++ software developer's tool kit, which enables the creation of haptic applications.

Developers can use the libraries of 3D prismatic objects, polygonal objects, and touch effects within the Ghost SDK to add a convincingly physical dimension to 3D applications.

Virtalis Sales Director, David Clark, said: "We have long experience in integrating SensAble's tools with third party applications".

"Their full range of products can now be seen at our Manchester HQ, which is now Europe's best equipped commercial VR demonstration centre".

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