Haptics and the Virtual Self

The emergence of new technology has provided fresh possibilities for human action and interaction. With virtual reality (VR) in particular, our actions and their effects are no longer tethered exclusively to the physical environment. Whilst this promises to extend our horizons, the impact of this technology on our sense of self is still unclear. Psychology literature emphasises the importance of our physical sensory world for grounding and constructing the self. Sensory feedback from the environment is thought to be crucial for recognising the boundaries of our bodily selves (sense of ownership), and self-generated actions and effects (sense of agency).
How can our sense of self be constructed and survive in virtual environments? This question is important to both psychologists and VR designers. For psychologists, the interest lies in what happens to the self in these environments, and what can be learned about the mechanisms underpinning self-construction. For user-experience designers, these issues matter because any factor that impoverishes the user's sense of self is likely to negatively impact their experience. Computer scientists have recognised these issues and are looking at ways of enriching the sensory environment in VR. One novel solution has been developed by Ultrahaptics, the non-HEI partner on this research project. Ultrahaptics has developed ultrasound technology that provides users with mid-air haptic feedback when acting in virtual environments. These technological advances promise to overcome some of the barriers to self-construction in virtual worlds.
Our research project aims to systematically investigate the effect of haptic feedback on the sense of ownership and sense of agency in virtual environments. This project will provide important insights for designers of the technology, and also offer psychology a unique opportunity to explore the role of haptic feedback.
The mechanisms underpinning the construction of self are a central concern of psychology and philosophy. This project promises to shed light on this in two key ways. First, we have a unique opportunity to explore the role of haptic feedback in self-construction. Until now, we have not had the technology available to precisely control the presence, timing and quality of haptic information. In this way, it promises to build research capacity for those working in this area. Second, the important changes that may occur to the sense of self in virtual environments. This is an area of growing interest given the emergence of new virtual technologies that may fundamentally challenge and alter our sense of self.
The proposed research is of direct relevance to those working in human-computer-interaction. Ultrahaptics has a strong interest in the proposed research, seeing it as a way of addressing key challenges arising from new automotive and virtual/augmented reality technologies. The aim is for the findings from our research to be fed back into the design and refinement of these technologies. For example, through our research we will be able to define the precise haptic feedback parameters that optimise the user's sense of ownership and agency. This will help refine the technology, which in turn will improve user experience.
Virtual reality technology is increasingly used in applied medical settings, such as motor rehabilitation for post-stroke patients. This technology offers the opportunity to practice everyday activities that are not possible in a hospital setting. It has also been argued that this form of rehabilitation can be more engaging and motivating. Despite these advantages, it is also recognised that virtual reality has certain drawbacks, one of which is the relative lack of sensory feedback. Our proposed research can help fine-tune Ultrahaptic technology and utilise this to optimise the patient's sense of ownership and agency, therefore improving the efficacy of this virtual rehabilitation approach.