A calligraphy training system based on skill acquisition through haptization

Abstract

We present a virtual reality system targeted at building a calligraphy training environment. Our main goal is to construct a virtual space enabling learners to intuitively acquire hard-to-inherit skills through the development of a Japanese calligraphy training system. The proposed system provides a haptic interaction channel allowing the learners to intuitively master instructor’s fine motor skills through the sense of touch. We utilize a commercially available haptic device called PHANTOM for simulating a writing brush in a virtual training space. The system implements a function for recording and replaying instructor’s hand motions via the PHANTOM device. The instructor’s writing techniques such as brush-strokes and pen pressures are recorded when he/she is writing characters and they are effectively reproduced and presented to the learners via the PHANTOM device. The learners can master how to write the recorded characters by feeling the instructor’s style of handwritings. We implemented a simple yet powerful 3D brush model for real-time visualization of handwritten characters without compromising the quality and reality of the visualized characters. The learners can start training at any time and iterate training sessions without worrying about resource consumptions such as papers and ink as much as they like. We conducted two experiments to validate the effectiveness of the proposed system for learning calligraphy in a virtual environment.