The Importance of Temperature Information in Virtual Training Environments

Temperature is an important source of information in our interactions with the environment but it is rarely built into virtual reality and simulation. In this paper, the findings from several of our experiments are brought together to discuss the efficacy of adding temperature information in simulation applications. In the first, Peltier tiles were added to an exoskeleton device designed to provide kinaesthetic feedback when interacting in a virtual environment. The effects were explored in terms of the potential to increase presence when interacting with virtual objects. We also describe an experiment in which movement was either active or passive-guided. In the active condition the degree of “coldness” felt at the fingertip was reported as less intense than when movement was passive. It appears that intentionality of movement plays a role in the attenuation of the stimulus. Other work suggests that the perception of temperature is not influenced by a simultaneously presented colour. For example, the perception of coldness is not enhanced when it is processed in conjunction with a blue colour. It is proposed that thermal feedback may be a useful adjunct for virtual reality interface devices.