Extensive research has explored haptic rendering of surface textures in virtual reality (VR). However, it is still challenging to provide realistic texture-based haptic feedback that aligns with users' fingertip motion in VR. We present OmniTex, a handheld haptic device that enables continuous omnidirectional texture rendering in VR. OmniTex integrates a 2 DoF rotational mechanism to support fingertip-aligned motion and deliver directional shear feedback, together with a linear translation mechanism for dynamic texture switching. Technical evaluation revealed low latency averaging around 250ms with our system for texture switching and motion synchronization. Our user studies further demonstrated the effectiveness of our design in improving user-perceived visual–tactile congruence in VR with different finger movements and different types of virtual textures, and our system offered significantly better sense of realism in VR compared with controller-based vibration achieving performance comparable to that of real-surface proxy interaction.

Authors: Tianrui Hu, Haichen Gao, Zeshui Li, and Kening Zhu (*).