When audio or video files are sent over the Internet, a data packet is created every 20 milliseconds, filtering out information irrelevant to human sight and hearing to reduce data size. These packets are sent in one direction to the recipient. However, in the transmission of haptic information, both the sender and receiver play equal roles.
For example, if a robotic arm is to be moved remotely, the user's movements control it. When the robotic hand grasps a tennis ball, the user feels it remotely. Information must flow in both directions, creating a global feedback loop where commands to the robot and the haptic feedback influence each other. Ideally, the transmission of haptic information should occur within one millisecond.