Novint Falcon

[runagate]

I don't suppose integrating this "alternate controller," which I happen to own but have made little headway in obtaining the haptic feeback control interface features I has hoping for, into Usine's wondrous patching universe?...

http://www.novint.com/index.php/novintfalcon

as seen controlling drum-robots here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIF711G-ajo

[nay-seven]

Interesting interfaces, how to you communicate with Usine, HID module...?

[runagate]

Well, the management shell software that Novint supplies can be HID, but there's other methods (unavailable to me) including an SDK and a scripting language. There's open source software here and there that attempts to allow it to communicate via TUIO, and I think perhaps OSC though that may only be on Linux. It's too developer-oriented for me to get to work.

The problem is that input-output feedback is complex, though likely worth it to those knowledgeable enough... imagine hitting a "virtual haptic" drum head, with "zones," physically modeled, upon which, for instance, "dampening" via touch-input could be inserted into the feedback look, which the haptic/touch feedback the User senses could be used to actually feel the diminution of the PM drum head's vibrations... just one simple example. In the past I've written absurd amounts of speculative specifications for such ideas, even before getting my hands on one, as the pre-Novint haptic interfaces upon which its based were 1600$+ USD...

[nay-seven]

ouuuch ! yes complex and expensive you're right !

[runagate]

whereas i think the falcon is about $200 new? i got mine used for $150, i think... it's incredible