Tearable : An Experience to Sense Infinite Paper Tearing

The tearing action is common in everyday life. One purpose of this action is to suppress data, as in a paper shredder, Tearing can also be an enjoyable method of stress reduction. In every case, tearing is not repeatable in real life. It is irreversible. But in this haptic system, users can experience tearing again and again.

The interface provides resistance forces and vibrations based on analyzed vibration data of tearing real paper. Accurate force feedback is conveyed with a DC motor and a hook-and-loop fastener. The force feedback can be adjusted to deliver tearing sensations for different types of paper. 

Tearable could be a relaxation tool, because it allows users to repeatedly tear pieces of their favorite paper. It might also be appropriate in toys for babies and young children.

Takuya Maekawa 
Yuichi Itoh 
Keisuke Takamoto 
Kiyotaka Tamada 
Takashi Maeda 
Yoshifumi Kitamura 
Fumio Kishino 
Osaka University