Early Implementation of VR Stuffed Toy System with Virtual Softness

Abstract

VR stuffed toy is an entertainment system based on virtual reality technology. Such systems can make a stuffed toy interactive in the virtual world while the corresponding stuffed toy in the real world stays still. This paper describes the early implementation of the VR stuffed toy system with "virtual softness." This system makes a stuffed toy in the virtual world react to the user's haptic interventions with animations. These animations control the user's perception of the softness of the stuffed toy they are touching in the real world. The prototype provides two animations; (1) exaggerated elongation based on the Poisson effect against the user's pushing and (2) jiggling reaction against the user's touch and stroke. Our approach to controlling the shape deformation in the virtual world suggests new design directions for stuffed toys in the future.