Power of 2 (Po2) is a new haptic technology that augments illusive tactile sensations in gesture-based gameplay. By controlling the intensities and timings of two vibrating actuators on two hands, users feel percepts of an illusory object and its motion in between the hands. Control parameters are modeled to robustly create this illusion, and they are programmed in a series of computer algorithms. Combined with user gestures and interactive media, Po2 creates highly dynamic and animated gameplay experiences with wearable and mobile handheld devices.

Po2 was developed in two configurations:

1. A user holding a device with two hands to feel motion across the hands through the device

2. A user wearing gloves to feel mid-air objects and interactions.

These common gameplay configurations allow creation of a variety of haptic effects for activities in games, such as objects moving and bouncing between hands, supernatural powers storing and emanating from the user’s hands, objects hovering above and in between the hands, etc. Po2 can be extended to many VR applications and create expressive and engaging multi-sensory experiences in video games, toys, children storybooks, and many other augmented gameplays.

At SIGGRAPH 2015, attendees play three games and enjoy multi-sensory experiences while fighting with aliens, catching a flying bird, and balancing a ball on a tablet.