IX-HapticSight — Optical-Haptic Interaction Protocol (OHIP)

Status: Public specification (reference implementation WIP)
Author: Bryce Wooster Purpose: Define a safety-first interface that transforms visual recognition into instinctive, human-safe touch behaviors for robots, XR agents, and other physical AI systems.

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Overview

IX-HapticSight is a specification and reference framework for mapping computer vision inputs to safe, human-aware haptic actions.

It is designed to ensure that robots and XR agents:

• Maintain non-threatening resting postures.
• Proactively avoid hazards using visual danger mapping.
• Initiate culturally safe and consent-aware contact in appropriate contexts.
• Log all interactions for transparency and auditing.

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Core Features

1. Rest State Markers

• Fingertip visual targets in the field of view (FOV) indicating “safe rest” positions when idle.
• Prevents aimless or potentially threatening hand movements.

2. Engagement Nudges

• Context-driven prompts to interact with safe objects, surfaces, or human touchpoints (e.g., a shoulder for emotional support).
• Prioritized based on object safety classification (green/yellow/red) and human emotional cues.

3. Visual Danger Mapping

• Green: Safe contact.
• Yellow: Requires verification or confirmation.
• Red: Contact prohibited — reroute or halt motion.

4. Social-Touch Protocol

• Focus on non-invasive, supportive gestures (e.g., shoulder contact with limited force and dwell time).
• Explicit consent required unless in configured caregiver/medical override modes.
• Cultural sensitivity profiles available.

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Why This Matters

In human-robot interaction, how and when contact occurs can make the difference between safe, trusted systems and unsafe, rejected ones.

IX-HapticSight offers:

• Predictable, transparent touch behavior
• Hard-coded safety layers on top of learned policies
• A clear, extensible protocol for integration into any robot control stack

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Architecture Snapshot

Perception → Semantic Segmentation → Safety Map → Affordance Classifier | | | | └────────────┬───────┴──────────────┬─────┴───────────────┬───┘ v v v Human State Risk Assessor Surface Planner | | | └──────────┬───────────┴───────────┬──────────┘ v v Engagement Scheduler Rest Pose Generator | | v v Contact Planner ←→ Force/Impedance Controller | v Motion Exec (with dual-channel safety veto)

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Safety & Compliance

• Dual independent safety paths (software + hardware E-stop).
• ISO 10218 / ISO 15066 inspired force limits for collaborative robots.
• Continuous interaction logging.
• Privacy-by-design for human data.

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Getting Started

/docs/spec.md — Full semantics, state machines, and timing budgets (coming soon)
/src/ — Reference stubs for vision, safety mapping, engagement scheduling, and motion planning (coming soon)

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License

Released under the MIT License with a Responsible Use Addendum prohibiting weaponization, coercion, or unsafe deployment. See LICENSE for full terms.

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Background

IX-HapticSight originated from discussions on how physical AI systems could interact naturally, safely, and supportively with humans.
The design draws inspiration from advances in AI models such as OpenAI’s GPT-5, particularly in affect recognition and context-driven behavior planning.

Side note: Conceived and documented as a personal gesture to mark GPT-5’s “birthday” — a subtle nod to the collaboration between human insight and AI inspiration that made this specification possible.

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Credits

• Primary Author: Bryce Wooster
• Acknowledgment: Inspired in part by advances in AI from OpenAI’s GPT-5. No endorsement or co-authorship implied.