Importance

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Abstract

A haptic interface device produces a haptic display in response to a user's interaction with an environment with which the haptic interface device is associated. The invention enables the resolution of the haptic display produced by the haptic interface device to be changed by the user. In particular, the invention can be implemented so that the haptic display resolution can be changed (readily) as the user interacts with the environment using the haptic interface device. Thus, the invention can enable a user to interact with a particular environment at different levels of detail (i.e., different resolutions) and, in particular, can enable the user to immediately change from interacting with the environment at one level of detail to interacting with the environment at a different level of detail. The invention can also enable a user to change the resolution of the haptic display of a haptic interface device by interacting with the haptic interface device and/or an apparatus used by the user to interact with the environment, thus facilitating the ability of the user to change the resolution of the haptic display while simultaneously interacting with the environment and thereby enabling the user to change quickly between different levels of haptic display detail. Additionally, the invention can enable a user to effect continuous change in the resolution of the haptic display of a haptic interface device, thus enabling the user to interact with the environment at any desired level of haptic display detail.

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First Claim