Want to be more like a Dolphin? Well here is your chance! Inspired by the way dolphins navigate the ocean (aka echolocation), a group of Ph.D. candidates from Japan’s Tsukuba University recently developed an innovative sonar glove that allows the wearer to feel what’s underwater without actually grabbing something. Designed and tested by Aisen Carolina Chacin and Takeshi Ozu, the IrukaTact glove (iruka means dolphin in Japanese) uses a variety of pulsating water jets to create haptic feedback to any wearer. After the glove’s sonar detects objects under water, it sends a signal back to the glove which then begins applying pressure to necessary fingers via these water jets. If the glove gets closer to an object, the pressure intensifies, alerting the wearer of its proximity.
The main goal of their design was to expand haptics since vibration alone is not enough for most people to sense the depth or feel the various textures of an object not being touched. Their drive to invent this came based on their love for dolphins. When people find something they are passionate about, it is much easier to find ideas to improve upon something or to find new ideas for new inventions. These two entrepreneurs are prime examples of finding their passion, and implementing it to everyone else. So there you have it all you dolphin lovers! Now you can find out what it is like with these haptic sonar gloves!
For a video on what the gloves look like and do, click on this link:
Echolocation is so cool, and it’s awesome to see entrepreneurs branching out and experimenting with stranger phenomenon like it! They are a great example of entrepreneurs looking at the less explored things in the world, and making them relevant and useful. I hope they continue their echolocation research – it might be helpful someday for blind people, when it can work out of water.