Rendered 3D map of the Los Angeles basin, suitable for haptic exploration with the PHANToM

The most interesting map to render haptically is of the third type. The data are available in the form of amplitude of shaking as a function of time. We render these (suitably scaled) to the tip of the PHANToM. We render the first kind of data (depth) by giving the map more deformability in areas of greater depth (so the user can push down further). Consistent with our interest in developing applications of haptics for visually impaired/blind users we are worked with IMSC collaborator Shri Narayanan to incorporate speech recognition into the interface. Thus a user can interact with the map via spoken commands. For example, a user might ask 'Where was the most shaking felt during the Northridge quake?' and the system guides the user's hand to the relevant area and says the area's name. Or the user might ask 'What was the shaking like in Pasadena ?' and the system guides the user's hand to Pasadena. The user can also go to an area and ask 'What is the seismic history of this place?' and the system narrates an answer interspersed with appropriate shaking.