Our skin is essential for sensing temperature and our environment. It allows us to feel the cold outdoors as our cheeks turn rosy and welcomes the warmth of spring.
Repetitive exposure to the same stimuli, known as “temperature acclimatization,” can hinder our ability to detect temperature changes in virtual reality (VR) when scenes change.
Researchers have developed non-contact technology to simulate a continuous cold sensation while keeping skin temperature stable. This innovative method utilizes the body’s sensitivity to rapid temperature shifts, using cold air and light to induce a cold feeling with minimal skin temperature fluctuations.
The system has been proven to create a virtual cold sensation without altering the actual temperature, matching the intensity of continuous skin temperature changes.
This breakthrough technology offers a new way to simulate skin sensations in VR, potentially providing immersive experiences in the Metaverse, including sudden cold breezes and lasting thermal sensations akin to those during international travel.
Source NeuroScienceNews
