User interface device including braking mechanism for interfacing with computer simulations

摘要

An apparatus for interfacing an elongated flexible object with an electrical system. The apparatus includes an object receiving portion and a rotation transducer coupled to the object receiving portion adapted to determine the rotational motion of the elongated flexible object when the object is engaged with the object receiving portion and to provide an electromechanical interface between the object and the electrical system. In a preferred embodiment, the rotation transducer includes an actuator and translational transducer to provide a translational electromechanical interface between the object and the electrical system.