What is Haptic Technology?
Haptic technology involves the generation of touch sensation through tactile feedback technology. Touch sensations take the form of applied forces, motions, or vibrations, and can be felt by users through devices such as gaming joysticks.
For instance, the vibration felt in a gaming console while playing a game is a haptic sensation. This stimulation will enhance user-experience and can also be used to create and control virtual objects.
Haptic devices have tactile sensors that measure the force exerted by a user on the interface. A haptic sensation is created by actuators or motors that produce a vibration, which is managed by software incorporated in the device interface through API.
What are the Benefits of Haptic Technology?
The technology enhances user-experience through the following factors:
Better Usage
Haptic sensation, along with its audio and visual setup, enhances user experience. Users feel assured on receiving feedback that the task is being executed on the device interface. Haptic technology engages a user’s senses and aids in better usage.
Realistic Environment
Assured Feedback
Current touchscreens do not provide the desired physical feedback. Haptics, on the other hand, provide tactile confirmation and also a confident and safe user experience. Haptics provide distraction-free feedback, assuring the user that an application is being accessed. For instance, a user can confidently access automotive navigation while driving without getting distracted thanks to tactile feedback.
Significance of Haptic Technology in Touchscreens
The technology is still in its nascent stage and is yet to be commercialized at its full potential. Currently most electronic devices, from cellphones to public displays, use touch-enabled displays. With the Touchscreen market reaching saturation, vendors are exploring haptic technology to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. Enhanced user experience, along with the tactile feedback provided by this technology, is attracting several industries including Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Retail, and Healthcare.
- Consumer Electronics: Fujitsu recently launched its haptic sensory tablet that gives users sensations such as slipperiness and roughness while touching certain images on the laptop screen. As laptop manufacturers gain traction in the hybrid laptop market, incorporating haptics in detachable displays (used as a tablet) will lead to the growth of the Laptop Touchscreen market
- Retail: Haptics is a key element with huge growth potential in augmented and virtual reality
- Healthcare: Haptic technology is used for medical simulations and also for training and teaching purposes
Healthcare Applications for Haptic Technology
Haptics enables the physically challenged (for example, deaf and blind) to access applications or browse the internet or even play games on mobile devices. Giving end-users a realistic feel and enhancing their experience is the prime factor triggering the adoption of haptics across several industries.
Haptics is widely accepted in gaming consoles and has also gained popularity in smartphones. Laptops, smartwatches, interactive tables, and public displays that use touchscreens are expected to incorporate haptic technology in the coming years. LG and Motorola have already implemented the technology in their touch-enabled electronic devices.
However, the cost factor, along with the additional hardware and software, is a restricting factor for the adoption of haptics. Haptics not only replaces physical buttons but also provides an interface to keep consumers engaged, which would lead to its increased adoption.
Though the touchscreen market will benefit from haptic technology, it is expected to be hampered by the growth of holographic technology and AR as these technologies eliminate the physical aspect of screens and give users a sense of touch.
