Touch technology has made considerable strides and even 6 years ago almost all mobile phones had traditional keypads whereas now most phones have touch screens. However, we still cannot feel the keypad on the phone or any of those action buttons while playing a game on any Android tablet due to lack of any sensory feedback.
Haptic Technology
In the next decade, it is going to change with the advent of haptic or tactile technology. This technology creates touch sensation by application of vibrations and motions to a person using the haptic device. Let us now look at some practical uses of this technology.
Uses of Haptic Technology
Touch sensation of objects in thin air
Just this month, Walt Disney has been able to develop a new technology, which makes it possible to feel textures on mobile phone’s screen. This development points towards a future where people will be able to feel their smart phones in addition to hearing and seeing things. Additionally, the company is working on tactile equipments that will not need actual contact and you will experience a sense as if you are touching any object in thin air. Similar work is going on at University of Bristol where similar mid air sensation of touch is being developed with the use of ultrasound vibrations to stimulate touch. These use ultrasonic transducers for producing various types of sensations for stimulating touch by use of sound waves.
Feel the sound
Similarly, there are other developments in haptic or tactile technology. Work is in progress on sound devices which aim to make users sense sound such as bass sensation by using vibrations of low frequency. Research work is also going on to develop technology using which sensation of physical buttons can be provided on touch screen phones.
Technology for visually impaired
On similar lines, new technology named Tacit is being developed which will be useful for visually impaired individuals. It will help them to feel different objects present close to them. This device is fixed on the wrist and by using ultrasound; it scans the close by locations to deliver a type of soft pressure on wrist when the wearer is getting close to any object.
