Developed by Balasundar Raju, a graduate student in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Dr. Srinivasan, the instrument could also be applied to the detection of skin cancer. "Sunburn and skin cancer result in changes in the mechanical properties of the skin. This microscope could potentially detect those properties," Dr. Srinivasan said.
In computer haptics work at the Touch Lab, "we're focusing on how to convey the texture, shape, and stiffness of computer-generated objects such as a cube or heart," Dr. Srinivasan said.
Other projects explore human-machine interactions. For example, Touch Lab researchers are studying the effects of vision and sound on the touch perception of subjects who interact with a computer through a haptic interface (a robotic device that translates the touch and feel of virtual objects to the user). They are also developing virtual environments in which two or more people in different locations use haptic interfaces to explore and manipulate the same object.
VIRTUAL SURGERY
Software currently in development simulates a surgical procedure--a
laparoscopy--on the computer. "The goal is to develop a system that will help
train doctors," said Cagatay Basdogan, an RLE research scientist conducting the
work with Dr. Srinivasan.
Laparoscopy involves making small incisions in the body. Instruments such as a scope for seeing the tissues involved and various surgical tools are inserted through these incisions and manipulated to complete an operation such as the removal of the gall bladder.
In the simulation, the user sees an on-screen image of the organs and tissues in
question. By manipulating a stencil that's analogous to a computer mouse, the
user can "place a 'tool' over, say, a lung, press down on it, see the
deformation of the lung and 'feel' how soft and pliable it is," Dr.
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Contact: Elizabeth Thomson
thomson@mit.edu
617-258-5402
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
18-Mar-1999