What Is Haptics?

Haptics (touch feedback) is the future of the user experience in digital devices. There are both physiological and emotional reasons for its fast-growing use:

• Of the five senses, touch is the most proficient, the only one capable of simultaneous input and output.
• Touch is at the core of personal experience.

Haptics = Touch = Connection

Petting a dog means more than just feeling fur. It conveys the enjoyment of connecting with a beloved companion. By involving the sense of touch so familiar in the human experience, haptics gives:

• Medical and surgical simulators sharp realism needed for effective training environments
• Touchscreens of all types the ability to “touch back” with unmistakable confirmation
• Mobile and office phones easier operation for an ever-growing number of features
• Automotive controls safer operation with reduced glance time
• Gaming systems greater realism, excitement, and enjoyment
• Industrial & commercial systems safer, more efficient, and more accurate control in distractive environments

Haptics is Now

Haptics is receiving broad, global acceptance. Over 300 million devices using Immersion’s haptic systems have been shipped around the world. That number is growing rapidly.

* *There are many terms used to describe haptics technology in user interfaces, including “full force feedback,” “rumble feedback,” “tactile feedback,” “touch-enabled,” “vibration,” and “vibrotactile.”

Touch is the first language

From a very early age, we become sensitive to the specific qualities of touch rather than its mere presence or absence. Touch can convey messages that are just as specific as those conveyed by others means, such as facial expressions.

The Pew Report

“Touch is natural and intuitive and it will succeed.” --The Future of the Internet III, Pew Internet & American Life Project.