Tactile Internet Technology: Revolutionizing Touch Over the Web

Transmitting the Sense of Touch Over the Internet: A New Frontier

Imagine being able to feel the texture of a fabric, the firmness of a handshake, or the resistance of a tennis ball, all through the internet. This is no longer the realm of science fiction but a burgeoning reality thanks to tactile internet technology. This groundbreaking advancement is set to revolutionize fields ranging from telemedicine to online gaming, offering a new dimension of interaction that was previously unimaginable.

The Birth of Haptic Codecs

Just as JPEG, MP3, and MPEG have become standards for compressing and transmitting images, audio, and video, respectively, haptic codecs are now emerging as the standard for transmitting tactile information. Under the leadership of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), a consortium has spent eight years developing the "Haptic Codecs for the Tactile Internet" (HCTI). This new standard lays the groundwork for applications such as tele-surgery, remote driving, and immersive online gaming experiences.

How Tactile Internet Technology Works

When you send audio or video files over the internet, the process is relatively straightforward. Data packets are created every 20 milliseconds, filtering out information irrelevant to human perception to reduce data size. This data flows in one direction, from sender to receiver. However, transmitting haptic information is more complex. Both the sender and receiver play active roles. For instance, if you control a robotic arm remotely, your movements dictate its actions. When the robotic hand grasps a tennis ball, you feel that sensation remotely. Information must flow in both directions, creating a global feedback loop where commands to the robot and tactile feedback to the user influence each other. Ideally, this data transmission should occur within one millisecond to match the speed of physical interactions with robots.

The Role of Codecs in Tactile Internet Technology

To reduce the amount of data that needs to be transmitted, codecs are used to encode and decode the data efficiently. The newly published IEEE Standard 1918.1.1 defines a codec for tactile data transfer. According to Prof. Eckehard Steinbach, head of the Media Technology Department at TUM, this codec captures both the sensations of movement—such as limb positions and forces—and the sensitivity of the skin, allowing users to feel surfaces like paper or metal. These haptic codecs are complemented by a standardized protocol for exchanging device properties, known as handshaking, during connection establishment.

High-Frequency Data Transmission

Unlike image, audio, and video compression standards, transmitting tactile information has traditionally required sending data packets up to 4,000 times per second in both directions. "This places very high demands on the communication network that transports the data packets," explains Steinbach. The advantage of this high frequency is that teleoperation feels realistic and the transmission remains robust, even if some data packets are lost. However, researchers aim to reduce this frequency to about 100 times per second, which is close to the human perception threshold.

The Development Journey

In 2014, a working group within the IEEE Standardization Association, including researchers from institutions like Imperial College London, NYU Abu Dhabi, Dalian University in China, and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), began developing a standard for haptic communication under TUM's leadership. "The new codec is like JPEG or MPEG, but for haptics," explains Prof. Steinbach, who led the standardization group for the past eight years.

The new compression standard, HCTI, optimizes both the feedback loop between sender and receiver and the data compression. The unique aspect is that even when data packets are sent over long distances, the user should not notice any delay. "The integrated control stabilizes the system. Forces exerted by a distant robot are slightly dampened, making hard surfaces feel softer," says Steinbach. This standardized solution also involved contributions from Prof. Sandra Hirche and Prof. Martin Buss from TUM.

Potential Applications

The new standard opens up exciting possibilities for various future applications. "Just as JPEG, MP3, or MPEG led to many applications once the standard was public, I expect the same from our new haptic codecs," says Prof. Steinbach.

Further Information and Collaborations

Prof. Eckehard Steinbach is also involved in the Munich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MIRMI), which has created an integrative research institute with leading expertise in robotics, perception, and data science. The Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-loop (CeTi) is another key player, where researchers from TUM and the Technical University of Dresden have been working since 2019 to elevate human-machine collaboration to a new level.

Preliminary work in the Collaborative Research Center SFB453 has also been crucial. Information sent at the speed of light through fiber optic networks can travel a maximum of 300 kilometers in one millisecond. From Germany to Japan, the data would already be 30 milliseconds in transit, not including additional delays from end-device rendering and sensor processing. To make imperceptible delays possible even over long distances, researchers from TUM and the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics in Oberpfaffenhofen collaborated. Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), they developed a new generation of haptic codecs in 2008, combining control for stabilizing "teleoperation in the presence of delays" and "perception-model-based compression of haptic data." These developments were made possible by the research of former DLR Prof. Gerhard Hirzinger, whose team managed data between the ISS and Earth using a stabilization algorithm.

The Future of Tactile Internet Technology

The potential of tactile internet technology is immense. From enhancing remote medical procedures to creating more immersive virtual reality experiences, the applications are vast and varied. As the technology continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly open up new avenues for innovation and interaction, making the digital world feel more tangible and real.

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Transmitting the sense of touch over the internet is an exciting frontier in technology. This concept, known as haptic communication, allows users to feel textures and sensations remotely. Imagine being able to touch and feel objects through your screen, enhancing virtual experiences in gaming, shopping, and remote work. This innovation is not just a futuristic dream but a rapidly developing reality.

One of the key applications of this technology is in virtual reality (VR). With the integration of haptic feedback, VR can become even more immersive. This could revolutionize industries such as training and education. For instance, VR safety training for employees is already utilizing similar technologies to provide realistic and safe training environments. This ensures that employees can practice and learn without any real-world risks.

Another interesting development is in the field of wearable technology. Devices that can transmit touch sensations are being developed to enhance communication for people with disabilities. These innovations are pushing the boundaries of what is possible, making technology more inclusive. A great example of this is the cochlear implant AI effectiveness study, which explores how AI can improve the effectiveness of cochlear implants, thereby enhancing the quality of life for users.

Furthermore, the integration of haptic technology with the internet has significant implications for remote work and telepresence. Imagine being able to shake hands with a colleague or feel the texture of a product sample from miles away. This could transform how businesses operate and interact. The quantum internet integration with fiber optics is another groundbreaking development that could support such advancements, providing faster and more reliable internet connections to facilitate these haptic communications.

As we continue to explore and develop these technologies, the potential applications are vast. From enhancing virtual experiences to improving accessibility and communication, the ability to transmit the sense of touch over the internet is set to be a game-changer. Stay tuned as this exciting field evolves and transforms the way we interact with the digital world.