Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Patent application highlights Apple's continued flirtation with haptic feedback]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/patent-application-highlights-apples-continued-flirtation-with/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/patent-application-highlights-apples-continued-flirtation-with/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/patent-application-highlights-apples-continued-flirtation-with/#comments Image

We could all use a little feedback, right? Even Apple. The company has been toying around with the concept of haptic feedback for a while now, at least so far as patent applications are concerned. Another application filed in November or 2010 has surfaced. Of course, what we told you back in 2009 about the tenuous connection between an application and an actual product is as relevant as ever. Still, Apple's concept for a "tiered haptic system" which "may use one or more arrays of shape change elements to provide a wide range of tactile feedback" demonstrates that, at least as of late 2010, Cupertino was still working to rethink the way it sees touchscreens.

Patent application highlights Apple's continued flirtation with haptic feedback originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applehaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackpatentpatent applicationPatentApplicationtouchtouchscreenThu, 03 May 2012 19:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with AT&T Labs prototypes: ShadowPuppets and haptic steering wheel]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/19/hands-on-with-atandt-labs-prototypes-shadowpuppets-and-haptic-ste/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/19/hands-on-with-atandt-labs-prototypes-shadowpuppets-and-haptic-ste/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/19/hands-on-with-atandt-labs-prototypes-shadowpuppets-and-haptic-ste/#comments Hands-on with AT&T Labs prototypes: ShadowPuppets and haptic steering wheel

We're not done with the AT&T prototypes yet. After putting our rears in the seat of a Porsche 911 and turning our questionable English into even more questionable Spanish, Ma Bell gave us a glimpse at some super rough devices fresh from the labs. The first one we got our hands on, really didn't need us to put our hands on it. ShadowPuppets sticks a webcam to a pico projector (literally... with gaffers tape) to create a touchless "multitouch" interface for your phone. Rather than have friends gather around your tiny iPhone display or force a person to awkwardly reach across you and tap on your handset, this concept lets anyone simply cast shadows to control the interface. It's not terribly dissimilar from a number of other projects out there, except it's specifically geared at turning smartphone interaction into a social experience. The demo required the assistance of an Alienware laptop, and the pinch to zoom function was a little wonky to say the least. Still, it was pretty easy to see how this might prove useful in daily life.

Gallery: AT&T Labs prototype hands-on

The other concept on hand was the haptic feedback steering wheel the company dreamed up with help from Carnegie Mellon. While the research may sound compelling, the device it self couldn't be any rougher around the edges... literally. The design consisted of roughly cut chunks of foam taped (this time with packing tape, we believe) haphazardly to a game controller. On each piece of foam was a tiny vibrating actuator connected to an Arduino that dangled below in a vaguely menacing tangle of cables. The sensation as the vibrations travel in circular patterns (clockwise to indicate a right turn, counter clockwise for left), was strange to say the least. But, as the cycles sped up and the turn approached we grew less uncomfortable with the feeling of a vibrating steering wheel. And we actually found the increasing tempo an easier way to discern when a turn was approaching than hearing a robotic voice shout out, "turn left in 500 feet." Check out the gallery above for some not so glamorous shots of the future of tech.

Hands-on with AT&T Labs prototypes: ShadowPuppets and haptic steering wheel originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ATTATT LabsAttLabshands-onhaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackpico projectorPicoProjectorprototypeshadowpuppetssteering wheelSteeringWheelThu, 19 Apr 2012 16:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Cadillac focuses on safety with vibrating drivers' seats, other accident avoidance tech (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/cadillac-focuses-on-safety-with-vibrating-drivers-seats-other/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/cadillac-focuses-on-safety-with-vibrating-drivers-seats-other/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/cadillac-focuses-on-safety-with-vibrating-drivers-seats-other/#comments ImageTo say General Motors' Cadillac division is taking safety seriously on its upcoming 2013 vehicles would be an understatement. The automaker recently announced its high-tech accident avoidance packages dubbed Driver Awareness and Assist, the earlier of which is set to debut this Spring on its new XTS model, moving along to the ATS by the summer. Driver Assist (set to release in the fall) packs goodies like Automatic Collision Preparation and auto-braking, while the Awareness version aims to help keep you in your lane and safe from blind spots, among other things. Despite the differing monikers, both sport many of the same systems such as Adaptive Forward Lighting that can shift 15 degrees based on your turn, radar-based adaptive cruise control and Rear Cross Traffic Alert so you don't get sideswiped while backing up. Most notable among both is the company's Safety Alert seat -- AT&T Labs may be testing a force-feedback steering wheel, but GM's gone and planted haptic feedback into the drivers' bottom seat cushion. Essentially, using the radar, cameras and sensors around the car, the seat can rumble on its left, right or all around, in order to "nudge" you in situations such as getting too close to another car or veering out of your lane. You can also opt for audio cues if you're not fond of vibrations, or use both together. Of course, there's a whole lot more to it, so if you're curious to see it all in action you'll find a duo of videos and more information in the press releases planted after the break.

Continue reading Cadillac focuses on safety with vibrating drivers' seats, other accident avoidance tech (video)

Cadillac focuses on safety with vibrating drivers' seats, other accident avoidance tech (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accident avoidanceAccidentAvoidanceAdaptive Cruise ControAdaptive Forward LightingAdaptiveCruiseControAdaptiveForwardLightingatscadillaccrossover suvCrossoverSuvgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmhaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackradarRear Cross Traffic AlertRearCrossTrafficAlertSafety Seat AlertSafetySeatAlertsedansensor fusionSensorFusionvideoxtsWed, 28 Mar 2012 08:42:00 EST<![CDATA[App turns Android tabs into math tools for the visually impaired (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/android-app-for-the-visually-impaired/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/android-app-for-the-visually-impaired/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/android-app-for-the-visually-impaired/#comments Haptic graphTwo high school students are taking part in a bit of an experiment at Vanderbilt University. The college's Medical and Electromechanical Design Laboratory (MED Lab) is working on an Android app that turns tablets into a teaching aid for the visually impaired. Areas of math that rely heavily on visual elements, such as algebra and calculus, prove problematic for students with poor eyesight. A common solution involves pipe cleaners, a cork board and push pins, to recreate graphs, but the method is quite slow. The MED Lab is looking to haptic feedback as a way to help the visually impaired identify lines, graph points and other data that is normally represented visually. For more details about the project check out the video after the break.

Continue reading App turns Android tabs into math tools for the visually impaired (video)

App turns Android tabs into math tools for the visually impaired (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blindeducationgraphgraphinghaptic feedbackHapticFeedbacklearning aidLearningAidmathMED LabMedical and Electromechanical Design LaboratoryMedicalAndElectromechanicalDesignLaboratoryMedLabteaching aidTeachingAidvanderbiltvanderbilt universityVanderbiltUniversityvisually impairedVisuallyImpairedWed, 07 Mar 2012 02:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi haptics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/hands-on-with-immersion-hd-integrator-hi-fi-haptics/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/hands-on-with-immersion-hd-integrator-hi-fi-haptics/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/hands-on-with-immersion-hd-integrator-hi-fi-haptics/#comments Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi hapticsIt was just over a year ago when we met with the folks from Immersion, and they showed us a prototype handset packing its HD haptics technology. Since that time, the piezoelectric actuator that makes the tactile magic possible has gone into mass production, and the first commercial device packing such hi-fi haptics, the Pantech Element, hit store shelves. Immersion's got greater aspirations for its tactile tech, however, and its new HD Integrator platform aims to put high fidelity haptics in every handset. We got to sample the HD haptics goods once again and chat with Immersion about the new platform and its technology, so head on past the break to see what the company has in store.

Continue reading Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi haptics

Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi haptics originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>force feedbackForceFeedbackhands-onhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhapticshd integratorHdIntegratorimmersionpiezopiezoelectrictactiletouchvideoThu, 23 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GTA III for Android hits 1.3, brings Liberty City to the Transformer Prime]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/gta-iii-for-android-hits-1-3-brings-liberty-city-to-the-transfo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/gta-iii-for-android-hits-1-3-brings-liberty-city-to-the-transfo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/gta-iii-for-android-hits-1-3-brings-liberty-city-to-the-transfo/#comments
Select iOS and Android devices have had the ability to terrorize Liberty City while on-the-go since December, but sadly those with Transformer Primes thus far have been left out of all that fun. Luckily, an update to the game ends that double standard, enabling Rockstar's classic to run on ASUS' tablet and Medion Lifetabs everywhere. It doesn't just bring expanded hardware support to the table though, as amongst other "technical fixes," the release also heralds new video display settings, Immersion haptics support and the capability of installing the game on a SD card. And fans of tactility, know that controls on the Xperia Play have been reworked, and it now boasts full support for GameStop's wireless controller. Still here? You shouldn't be -- grab the update in the source link below.

GTA III for Android hits 1.3, brings Liberty City to the Transformer Prime originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgrand theft autoGrandTheftAutoGTAGTA 3gta IIIGta3GtaIiihaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhapticshardware supportHardwareSupportimmersionimmersion hapticsImmersionHapticsmedion lifetabMedionLifetabminipostrockstarrockstar gamesRockstarGamestransformer primeTransformerPrimexperia playXperiaPlayThu, 26 Jan 2012 12:56:00 EST<![CDATA[FingerFlux system uses magnets to add tactile feedback to touchscreens]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/fingerflux-system-uses-magnets-to-add-tactile-feedback-to-touchs/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/fingerflux-system-uses-magnets-to-add-tactile-feedback-to-touchs/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/fingerflux-system-uses-magnets-to-add-tactile-feedback-to-touchs/#comments We've seen a number of efforts that promise to make touchscreens more tactile, but none quite like this so-called FingerFlux system developed by a team of researchers from Germany's Aachen University. Its hook is a layer of magnets that lie beneath the touchscreen and react to a simple thimble that the user must wear. While that particular accoutrement could be considered a slight drawback, it does open up a number of interesting possibilities -- including the ability to draw your finger towards an item on the screen, and "lock" it in a certain area. What's particularly key, however, is that you're also able to feel a bit of feedback before you even touch the screen -- as opposed to other entirely screen-based options -- which could could let you operate something like media player controls without actually looking at your phone. Of course, it's all still a long ways from being shrunk down to phone-size, but the researchers do have a working prototype in a table-top device. Check it out in the video after the break.

Continue reading FingerFlux system uses magnets to add tactile feedback to touchscreens

FingerFlux system uses magnets to add tactile feedback to touchscreens originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aachen UniversityAachenUniversityhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackmagnetmagneticmagnetstactiletactile feedbacktactile interfaceTactileFeedbackTactileInterfacetouch screenTouchScreenvideoWed, 26 Oct 2011 20:56:00 EST<![CDATA[KDDI shows off sensory enhancements for smartphone users, throws a free-viewpoint virtual concert]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/kddi-shows-off-sensory-enhancements-for-smartphone-users-throws/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/kddi-shows-off-sensory-enhancements-for-smartphone-users-throws/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/kddi-shows-off-sensory-enhancements-for-smartphone-users-throws/#comments KDDI shows off sensory enhancements for smartphone users, throws a free-viewpoint virtual concert Japanese carrier KDDI's never been shy about showing off its latest and greatest from its lab, and here at CEATEC 2011 we got to lay our fingers on a couple of its in-development smartphone sensory enhancements, along with a free-viewpoint concert concept that's being researched on. The first demo we saw was actually the same haptic smartphone prototype that was unveiled back in May, but we thought it'd be nice to give it a go with our very own hands -- read on to find out how well it performed.

Gallery: KDDI shows off sensory enhancements for smartphone users, throws a free-viewpoint virtual concert

Continue reading KDDI shows off sensory enhancements for smartphone users, throws a free-viewpoint virtual concert

KDDI shows off sensory enhancements for smartphone users, throws a free-viewpoint virtual concert originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 06:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Androidaudio enhancementAudioEnhancementCEATECCEATEC 2011Ceatec2011conceptdemoenhancementfeaturedfeaturesfree-viewing concertFree-viewingConcerthands-onhaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackJapanKDDIKyoceralabnew touch feeling smartphoneNewTouchFeelingSmartphoneresearchsmartphonetabletvideovirtual concertVirtualConcertTue, 04 Oct 2011 06:46:00 EST<![CDATA[ViviTouch haptic technology hands-on: electroactive polymer giving a 'high definition feel']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/vivitouch-haptic-technology-hands-on-electroactive-polymer-givi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/vivitouch-haptic-technology-hands-on-electroactive-polymer-givi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/vivitouch-haptic-technology-hands-on-electroactive-polymer-givi/#comments Haptic feedback isn't exactly something that'd blow people's mind these days, with most mobile devices and gaming controllers already packing a little vibrator to spice up one's gaming experience. While these motors do the job just fine for delivering the sensation of large engines and explosions, their monotonic performance and relatively high minimum output threshold means they can't reproduce finer vibration. For instance, you wouldn't be able to feel a guitar string fade away after a strum, nor would you feel the finer end of a spring recoil. This is where Bayer MaterialScience's ViviTouch -- previously dubbed Reflex -- tries to fill the void.

For those who aren't familiar, the magic behind ViviTouch is its electroactive polymer (or EAP in short) -- imagine a thin sheet that consists of two electrode layers sandwiching a dielectric elastomer film, and when a voltage is applied, the two attracting electrodes compress the entire sheet. This slim, low-powered ViviTouch actuator module can be placed underneath an inertial mass (usually a battery) on a tray, thus amplifying the haptic feedback produced by the host device's audio signal between 50Hz and 300Hz (with a 5ms response time).

Gallery: ViviTouch haptic technology hands-on

Continue reading ViviTouch haptic technology hands-on: electroactive polymer giving a 'high definition feel'

ViviTouch haptic technology hands-on: electroactive polymer giving a 'high definition feel' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Artificial MuscleArtificialMuscleBayerBayer MaterialScienceBayerMaterialscienceEAPelectro active polymerelectroactive polymerElectroActivePolymerfeaturedfeatureshands-onhaptichaptic actuatorhaptic feedbackhaptic transducerHapticActuatorHapticFeedbackHapticTransducerHICtgstgs 2011Tgs2011tokyo game showTokyoGameShowvideoViviTouchSat, 17 Sep 2011 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Wrist sensor turns the back of your hand into a meaty haptic interface (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/wrist-sensor-turns-the-back-of-your-hand-into-a-meaty-haptic-int/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/wrist-sensor-turns-the-back-of-your-hand-into-a-meaty-haptic-int/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/wrist-sensor-turns-the-back-of-your-hand-into-a-meaty-haptic-int/#comments
We're all intimately familiar with the backs of our hands, so why not use them as a haptic interface to control our gadgets? That's the idea behind the device pictured above -- a nifty little wrist sensor that turns your paw into a flesh-toned trackpad. Designed by Kei Nakatsuma, a PhD student at the University of Tokyo, this contraption employs infrared sensors to track a user's finger as it moves across the back of a hand. These movements are mirrored on a wristwatch-like display, thanks to seven IR detectors and a set of piezoelectric sensors, effectively turning any digit into an organic stylus or mouse. Nakatsuma, who unveiled his work at this week's SIGGRAPH, says his creation can't handle the more complicated, pinching or rotating gestures you could manipulate on most smartphone touchscreens and acknowledges that the screen can be difficult to read in direct sunlight. But the underlying technology could pave the way for similarly handy designs, while allowing users to interact with their gadgets without having to constantly glance at their screens, or go fishing in their pockets. Feel your way past the break to see a video of the device in action.

Continue reading Wrist sensor turns the back of your hand into a meaty haptic interface (video)

Wrist sensor turns the back of your hand into a meaty haptic interface (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 04:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>displayhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhuman skinHumanSkininfraredinfrared sensorInfraredSensorinputinput deviceInputDeviceinterfacejapanpiezoelectricpinchingresearchscreensensorSIGGRAPHsiggraph 2011Siggraph2011skintouchtouch interfaceTouchInterfaceuniversity of tokyoUniversityOfTokyovideowristwristwatchFri, 12 Aug 2011 04:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple patent application takes the hard keys out of the keyboard, promises a flat surface solution]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/apple-patent-application-takes-the-hard-keys-out-of-the-keyboard/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/apple-patent-application-takes-the-hard-keys-out-of-the-keyboard/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/apple-patent-application-takes-the-hard-keys-out-of-the-keyboard/#comments Apple's giving us a patent application peek into its post-PC future, and it looks like hard keys will be so 2008. The recently revealed filing shows off a virtual, flat keyboard concept for Cupertino's line of non-iOS products that flirts with metal, plastic and glass form factors. Using a combination of piezoelectrics, haptic feedback and acoustic pulse recognition, these prospective designs will be able to detect your finger-pounding surface input. If you're the fast-typing kind, you're probably wondering how your digits will recognize the keys sight unseen. Well, there's a few workarounds for that. In its metal and plastic iterations, Jobs and co. plan to stamp or micro-perforate the layout into place, while their glass counterpart would receive a graphical overlay. The application also promises an LED-lit display for hard to see conditions and the inclusion of capactive sensors to enable multi-touch functions, so you avoid e.e. cummings-style emails. Of course, applications aren't necessarily indicative of a surefire product, but those interested in tickling their imagination can give the source link a look.

Apple patent application takes the hard keys out of the keyboard, promises a flat surface solution originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acoustic pulse recognitionAcousticPulseRecognitionAppleCupertinofilingflat surface keyboardFlatSurfaceKeyboardhaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackiMackeyboardkeyboardsmacbook airmacbook proMacbookAirMacbookProOS X LionOsXLionpatent applicationpatent applicationsPatentApplicationPatentApplicationspiezoelectricpiezoelectricsSteve JobsSteveJobsvirtual keyboardVirtualKeyboardMon, 25 Jul 2011 22:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect-driven tactile bodysuit makes you tingle in eight different places]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/kinect-driven-tactile-bodysuit-makes-you-tingle-in-eight-differe/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/kinect-driven-tactile-bodysuit-makes-you-tingle-in-eight-differe/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/kinect-driven-tactile-bodysuit-makes-you-tingle-in-eight-differe/#comments

We know the US Army has already experimented with vibrating clothing, and soon it could be our turn. The trendy figure-hugger above is rigged with haptic actuators across the arms and torso, which respond when the wearer's body 'touches' virtual objects created via Microsoft's Kinect platform. The outfit's designers at the University of Aachen spent just a few hundred dollars on components, aside from the cost of the Kinect, so this might well have commercial potential. Click the source link if you're really keen to see a concept video -- although it doesn't consist of much beyond a German dude doing the Hey Macarena in his socks.

[Thanks, Jarod]

Kinect-driven tactile bodysuit makes you tingle in eight different places originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actuatorbodysuitconceptfeedbackhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinecttactileuniversity of aachenUniversityOfAachenvibrationvibration feedbackVibrationFeedbackvirtualvirtual realityVirtualRealityMon, 25 Jul 2011 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[ViviTouch haptic tech offers range of feedback, aims to reinvent the mobile gaming wheel]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/vivitouch-haptic-tech-offers-range-of-feedback-aims-to-reinvent/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/vivitouch-haptic-tech-offers-range-of-feedback-aims-to-reinvent/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/vivitouch-haptic-tech-offers-range-of-feedback-aims-to-reinvent/#comments When a company touts a product as being as revolutionary as the leap from black & white TV to color, it's either incredibly delusional or it has a damn good product on its hands. And judging by the buzz surrounding Artificial Muscle's ViviTouch tactile feedback technology and our own hands-on at CES, we're inclined to believe its braggart rights. Taking the "one-buzz-fits-all" approach and chucking it in the bin of 'ye olde tech of yesteryear,' the electroactive polymer tech creates a "spectrum of feeling" in the 50 - 300Hz range that registers with a user's hand in five milliseconds. We know what you're thinking -- haptic minutiae is fine and all, but what about my battery life? Well, if the company's CEO is to be believed, the vibrating touch interface drains 70 percent less juice than rival implementations -- so it's still hoggy, but not quite as hungry. If you're looking to get a feel of your own for these sensational claims, you'll have to wait for the Mophie Pulse to make its way to fourth generation iPod touch's later this year. Buzzwordy presser after the break.

Continue reading ViviTouch haptic tech offers range of feedback, aims to reinvent the mobile gaming wheel

ViviTouch haptic tech offers range of feedback, aims to reinvent the mobile gaming wheel originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Apple iPod TouchAppleIpodTouchArtificial Muscle IncArtificialMuscleIncgamegame gripGameGripgriphaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackmobile gamingMobileGamingmophiemophie pulseMophiePulsePulseViviTouchTue, 12 Jul 2011 17:58:00 EST<![CDATA[KDDI haptic smartphone prototype promises up to seven layers of touch, only shows off two]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/kddi-haptic-smartphone-prototype-promises-up-to-seven-layers-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/kddi-haptic-smartphone-prototype-promises-up-to-seven-layers-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/kddi-haptic-smartphone-prototype-promises-up-to-seven-layers-of/#comments Ah, another possibly vaporous, yet intriguing addition to a long line of haptic patents and prototypes. Today's offering: a KDDI smartphone mockup (utilizing Kyocera display technology) promising to render sensation through multiple layers of applied touchscreen pressure. Imagine depressing a camera shutter on a touchscreen, and you've got the idea. KDDI only had a screen sporting two haptic layers on hand when they demoed the prototype at Wireless Japan this week, but Kyocera reportedly told Akihabara News that the technology is capable of up to seven layers of tantalizing touch. Neat. Maybe we'll get a few authentic haptic touchscreens on the market and do away with all the vibrational fakery we've been seeing.

KDDI haptic smartphone prototype promises up to seven layers of touch, only shows off two originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 May 2011 07:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>displaydisplayshaptichaptic feedbackhaptic technologyhaptic touchscreenHapticFeedbackhapticsHapticTechnologyHapticTouchscreenKDDIkyoceraprototypescreenscreenssmartphonesmartphonestactiletactile feedbackTactileFeedbacktouch screentouchscreentouchscreenswireless japanWirelessJapanThu, 26 May 2011 07:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Enzo's Pinball gets you all touchy-feely with your phone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/08/enzos-pinball-gets-you-all-touchy-feely-with-your-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/08/enzos-pinball-gets-you-all-touchy-feely-with-your-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/08/enzos-pinball-gets-you-all-touchy-feely-with-your-phone/#comments We got a hands-on sample of Haptify's haptic-powered apps a couple months back and came away intrigued, but yearning for more. Well, the company is finally ready to sate our penchant for playtime physicality with its first game, Enzo's Pinball. The game debuts with three tables ("more coming soon"), and is designed to let you feel every bump, rattle, and ricochet as if it were the real thing. It isn't identical to its tangible counterpart, but it is an upgrade over the rumble-free digital competition. Haptify's haptic black magic works with handsets running Android 2.1 and up, so there's an awful lot of potential pinball wizards out there. You can grab the game in the Android Market and it'll cost $1.49 to give in to your tactile desires.

Enzo's Pinball gets you all touchy-feely with your phone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.1android 2.2android 2.3android marketAndroid2.1Android2.2Android2.3AndroidMarketenzos pinballEnzosPinballfeedbackforce feedbackForceFeedbackfroyogingerbreadhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhapticshaptifyImmersiontactiletactile feedbackTactileFeedbackFri, 08 Apr 2011 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Immersion releases SDK to put haptics in Android, helps smartphones move what their makers gave them]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/08/immersion-releases-sdk-to-put-haptics-in-android-helps-smartpho/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/08/immersion-releases-sdk-to-put-haptics-in-android-helps-smartpho/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/08/immersion-releases-sdk-to-put-haptics-in-android-helps-smartpho/#comments About a month ago, we told you about Immersion's MOTIV dev platform to design Android apps with tactile feedback, and today its release has finally arrived. The SDK comes with predesigned haptic effects, sample code, and the ability to tweak the duration and intensity of the feedback -- allowing developers to perfectly tailor the amount of shake in your groove thang. Interested parties can hit up the source link for the SDK download and start indulging in the haptic dark arts immediately.

Continue reading Immersion releases SDK to put haptics in Android, helps smartphones move what their makers gave them

Immersion releases SDK to put haptics in Android, helps smartphones move what their makers gave them originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidfeedbackforce feedbackForceFeedbackgooglehaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhapticsimmersionsdksoftware development kitSoftwareDevelopmentKittactiletouchTue, 08 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Immersion's MOTIV development platform integrates haptics into Android, we go hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/immersions-motiv-development-platform-integrates-haptics-into-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/immersions-motiv-development-platform-integrates-haptics-into-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/immersions-motiv-development-platform-integrates-haptics-into-a/#comments You may know that Immersion's haptic technology is in everything from surgical simulators to game controllers, but we're willing to bet you didn't know it's already baked into over 200 million existing devices -- including every Samsung Galaxy S smartphone and handsets by Nokia and LG. Now, using Android handsets' existing vibrator motors, a cheap software upgrade can inject force feedback into existing elements across the entire Android UI (2.2 and up), and with future devices -- built with multi-dollar piezoelectric actuators that vibrate the screen itself -- the haptic experience goes hi-fi. Now that it's revealed that little easter egg to the world, Immersion wants you to build some apps, and to that end it's releasing the MOTIV developer platform this March. Read all about it after the break.

Gallery: Immersion's piezoelectric haptic reference handset, hands-on

Continue reading Immersion's MOTIV development platform integrates haptics into Android, we go hands-on

Immersion's MOTIV development platform integrates haptics into Android, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidfeedbackforce feedbackForceFeedbackgooglehands-onhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackHapticsimmersionpiezopiezo-actuatorpiezoelectrictactiletouchThu, 10 Feb 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mophie Pulse haptic game grip hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/mophie-pulse-haptic-game-grip-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/mophie-pulse-haptic-game-grip-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/mophie-pulse-haptic-game-grip-hands-on/#comments Today at CES, Mophie showed off a prototype of its Pulse game grip for the 4th-generation iPod touch, which features battery-powered front-facing stereo speakers and haptic feedback by Reflex Technology. We spent some time using the Pulse and came away rather impressed. Game audio, music, and even the keyboard tick sound get translated into convincing pulses and vibrations. The iPod touch interfaces with the Pulse via the 3.5mm headphone jack, and a switch on the bottom left edge turns the haptic feedback on and off. As a bonus, the Pulse also offers full case protection. No word yet on availability or pricing, but you can check out the prototype in the gallery below.

Gallery: Mophie Pulse haptic game grip hands-on

Mophie Pulse haptic game grip hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casecesces 2011ces2011gamegame gripGameGripgriphands-onhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackmophiemophie pulsemophiepulsePulsespeakersWed, 05 Jan 2011 01:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect and haptics combine at the University of Washington to let you feel the future (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/19/kinect-and-haptics-combine-at-the-university-of-washington-to-le/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/19/kinect-and-haptics-combine-at-the-university-of-washington-to-le/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/19/kinect-and-haptics-combine-at-the-university-of-washington-to-le/#commentsKinect and haptics combine at the University of Washington to let you feel the future (video) Sure, looking at the future is great and all, and that's what we feel like we're doing with all these wonderful Kinect hacks we've been covering lately. But what about feeling the future, man? That's what the kids at the University of Washington BioRobotics Laboratory are up to, taking the 3D images created by Microsoft's gaming peripheral and combining that with a 3D haptic controller, what looks to be a SensAble Phantom to us. The result? A so-called "haptic handshake," which looks even more uncomfortable than when Hank and Dean do their "Go Team Venture" routine. You can see both embedded after the break and decide for yourself.

[Thanks, Jonas]

Continue reading Kinect and haptics combine at the University of Washington to let you feel the future (video)

Kinect and haptics combine at the University of Washington to let you feel the future (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dbiorobotics labbiorobotics laboratoryBioroboticsLabBioroboticsLaboratoryhackhaptichaptic feedbackhaptic mouseHapticFeedbackHapticMousekinectuniversity of washingtonUniversityOfWashingtonvideoSun, 19 Dec 2010 15:17:00 EST<![CDATA[MS applies for patent on 'light-induced shape-memory,' a touchscreen that could touch back]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/29/ms-applies-for-patent-on-light-induced-shape-memory-a-touchsc/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/29/ms-applies-for-patent-on-light-induced-shape-memory-a-touchsc/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/29/ms-applies-for-patent-on-light-induced-shape-memory-a-touchsc/#commentsMS applies for patent on 'light-induced shape-memory,' a touchscreen that could touch you back Touchscreens are selfish lovers, taking your gentle caresses and impatient taps without offering a hint of feedback to you. We've seen attempts to change that, like prototypes from Toshiba and Senseg that add a bit of texture to a touchable surface, but now Microsoft might be looking to bring such dynamic tactility to the one of the biggest touchable surfaces: Surface. A recent patent application entitled "Light-induced Shape-memory Polymer Display Screen" describes a technique for a display that uses infra-red light to detect touch, but also to "selectively change a topography of the topography-changing layer." In other words: to make it bumpy or smooth. Certain wavelengths of light projected on the screen can cause areas of that topography layer expand or contract, which could finally mean all our cries for attention might finally be responded to in kind.

MS applies for patent on 'light-induced shape-memory,' a touchscreen that could touch back originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>haptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackinfra redInfraRedirlight-induced shape-memoryLight-inducedShape-memorymicrosoftpatentpatent apppatent applicationPatentAppPatentApplicationprojectortactiletactile feedbackTactileFeedbacktexturetouchscreenusptoMon, 29 Nov 2010 11:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Shear feedback GPS navigation tells your fingers where to go, you just have to follow (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/shear-feedback-gps-navigation-tells-your-fingers-where-to-go-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/shear-feedback-gps-navigation-tells-your-fingers-where-to-go-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/shear-feedback-gps-navigation-tells-your-fingers-where-to-go-yo/#commentsShear feedback GPS navigation tells your fingers where to go, you just have to follow (video) Keeping your eyes on the road gets ever more difficult with ever-bigger, ever-brighter GPS navigation units hitting retail. This product of University of Utah research could obsolete them entirely by tickling your fingers. It's called "shear feedback," effectively stretching the skin on your fingertip to tell you which way to go, achieved via a pair of old Thinkpad trackpoints, which were always too coarse a grit for our delicate tastes. The nub moves left or right to tell you where to go, and in a test distracted drivers were 24 percent more likely to follow directions through their digits than when told by cold, uncaring GPS lady. It's demonstrated after the break and looks like it would be perfect if we always drove at ten and two -- and wanted to get our fingerprints sandpapered off on every trip to the mall.

Continue reading Shear feedback GPS navigation tells your fingers where to go, you just have to follow (video)

Shear feedback GPS navigation tells your fingers where to go, you just have to follow (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>distracted drivingDistractedDrivinggpsgps navigationGpsNavigationhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbacknavigationshear feedbackShearFeedbackuniversity of utahUniversityOfUtahvideoMon, 11 Oct 2010 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[UC San Diego researchers repurpose 3D HDTV for heads-up VR system]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/26/uc-san-diego-researchers-repurpose-3d-hdtv-for-heads-up-vr-syste/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/26/uc-san-diego-researchers-repurpose-3d-hdtv-for-heads-up-vr-syste/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/26/uc-san-diego-researchers-repurpose-3d-hdtv-for-heads-up-vr-syste/#comments
Off the shelf 3D HDTVs may still be a bit expensive from a consumer's point of view, but they're a downright bargain compared to the usual high-end virtual reality gear. This gave some researchers at UC San Diego a bright idea: they've paired a $2,300 Samsung 3D TV with a half-silvered mirror and a touch-feedback controller for a haptic-enabled heads-up virtual reality system (or HUVR) that costs just $7,000 (without head tracking). What's more, they say their system actually outperforms the PARIS HUVR system developed twelve years ago (and still in use), which cost a full $100,000. Head on past the break for a quick video of the rig in action.

[Thanks, Chase]

Continue reading UC San Diego researchers repurpose 3D HDTV for heads-up VR system

UC San Diego researchers repurpose 3D HDTV for heads-up VR system originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d hdt3d tv3dHdt3dTvhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackheads-up displayheads-up virtual realityHeads-upDisplayHeads-upVirtualRealityhuvrparisuc san diegoUcSanDiegovideovirtual realityVirtualRealityvrMon, 26 Jul 2010 06:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba brings texture to touch (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/toshiba-brings-texture-to-touch-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/toshiba-brings-texture-to-touch-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/toshiba-brings-texture-to-touch-video/#comments Reach out and touch whatever screen you're reading this on. What if, instead of feeling the glass or plastic beneath your finger, you could experience the texture of a brush, woodgrain, or even a stone? Well, Toshiba's working on just such a project, which operates on the basis of a film affixed to, say, a smartphone's touch panel -- electrical currents are sent through this layer, and your digits are shot up with the simulated sensation of touching those various surfaces. Senseg, the company behind this tech, has been around since 2008, but perhaps this recent prototype demo is a sign that things might actually start going places. It's not like there'll be a shortage of imaginative uses for such precise tactile feedback. Video after the break.

Continue reading Toshiba brings texture to touch (video)

Toshiba brings texture to touch (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 May 2010 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e-senseembedded systems expoembedded systems expo 2010EmbeddedSystemsExpoEmbeddedSystemsExpo2010feedbackhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackjapanprototypesensationsensegsenseg e-senseSensegE-sensetacticletacticle feedbackTacticleFeedbacktexturetoshibatoshiba information systemsToshibaInformationSystemstouchtouchscreenvideoFri, 21 May 2010 13:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Artificial Muscle ramps up production -- expect touchscreens that push back in 2011]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/29/artificial-muscle-ramps-up-production-expect-touchscreens-tha/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/29/artificial-muscle-ramps-up-production-expect-touchscreens-tha/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/29/artificial-muscle-ramps-up-production-expect-touchscreens-tha/#commentsArtificial Muscle makes touchy devices burlier Last we heard from Artificial Muscle, the company was trying to convince hospitals, cell phone manufacturers and more that its technology -- a silicon film that expands and contracts with an applied voltage -- would provide a real sense of touch to their cold, hard touchscreens. On at least three counts, it has succeeded. The San Jose Mercury News reports that two cell phone manufacturers are planning Artificial Muscle-based products in 2011, and that an "electronics entertainment product" will be released this Christmas. The company also plans to produce 1 million of the electronic actuators per month to anticipate further demand. While the Mercury News notes that Artificial Muscle's product isn't the holy grail of haptic feedback -- the entire screen stiffens when pressed, not just the spot you touch -- its adoption means the company may have set events in motion to ultimately reach that goal.

Artificial Muscle ramps up production -- expect touchscreens that push back in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actuatorartificialArtificial MuscleArtificialMusclehaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackmuscletouchscreen feedbackTouchscreenFeedbacktouchscreensMon, 29 Mar 2010 23:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's WiFi-enabled CL80 adds touch of AMOLED to 14MP sensor]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/samsungs-wifi-enabled-cl80-adds-touch-of-amoled-to-14mp-sensor/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/samsungs-wifi-enabled-cl80-adds-touch-of-amoled-to-14mp-sensor/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/samsungs-wifi-enabled-cl80-adds-touch-of-amoled-to-14mp-sensor/#comments Samsung's AMOLED obsession continues unabated as it has just taken the official wraps off the 3.7-inch touchscreen-equipped CL80. Already well detailed in an earlier leak, this shooter crams a 7x optical zoom lens plus WiFi and Bluetooth antennae inside one of those unreasonably thin enclosures that are all the rage these days. It's the twenty-teens now, so naturally you get a jumbo 14.2 megapixel sensor with optical image stabilization as well as a 720p movie mode. Coming out this spring, the CL80 has already garnered a 2010 CES Innovation Award, but if you can settle for a 3.5-inch conventional LCD and do without the wireless options, Samsung will sell you the otherwise identical TL240 at a presumably more affordable price point this February. Dive past the break for the full PR and specs.

Gallery: Samsung CL80

Continue reading Samsung's WiFi-enabled CL80 adds touch of AMOLED to 14MP sensor

Samsung's WiFi-enabled CL80 adds touch of AMOLED to 14MP sensor originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 ces innovation award2010CesInnovationAward720pamoledbluetoothbreaking newsBreakingNewscameracapacitivecesces 2010Ces2010cl80compactcompact cameraCompactCameradigital cameraDigitalCameraemailgestureshaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhydro-formingimage stabilizationImageStabilizationinnovation awardInnovationAwardpoint and shootPointAndShootsamsungsamsung cl80samsung tl240SamsungCl80SamsungTl240smart gestureSmartGesturetl240touchscreenwifiWed, 06 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[URC debuts MX-5000 universal remote with haptic feedback]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/urc-debuts-mx-5000-universal-remote-with-haptic-feedback/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/urc-debuts-mx-5000-universal-remote-with-haptic-feedback/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/urc-debuts-mx-5000-universal-remote-with-haptic-feedback/#comments
URC has rolled out some pretty impressive remotes in its day, and it looks like it now has another claim to fame with what appears to be the first universal remote control with haptic feedback. That comes in the form of the company's new MX-5000 remote (pictured above with the touchscreen-centered MX-6000), which has a 2.7-inch touchscreen that URC says provides a "'very satisfying sensation" when you press one of the onscreen buttons. Otherwise, you can expect it to pack built-in WiFi, narrowband RF and IR to let you control just about anything you can throw at it, along with an included base station to accommodate various IR and RS-232 components and, of course, a built-in rechargeable battery and charging base. No word on a price just yet, but URC says the MSRP will be "less than $1,500." Yes, fifteen hundred dollars.

Filed under: ,

URC debuts MX-5000 universal remote with haptic feedback originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>haptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackmx-5000remoteuniversal remoteUniversalRemoteurcurc mx-5000UrcMx-5000Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:24:00 EST<![CDATA[URC debuts MX-5000 universal remote with haptic feedback]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/urc-debuts-mx-5000-universal-remote-with-haptic-feedback/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/urc-debuts-mx-5000-universal-remote-with-haptic-feedback/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/urc-debuts-mx-5000-universal-remote-with-haptic-feedback/#comments
URC has rolled out some pretty impressive remotes in its day, and it looks like it now has another claim to fame with what appears to be the first universal remote control with haptic feedback. That comes in the form of the company's new MX-5000 remote (pictured above with the touchscreen-centered MX-6000), which has a 2.7-inch touchscreen that URC says provides a "'very satisfying sensation" when you press one of the onscreen buttons. Otherwise, you can expect it to pack built-in WiFi, narrowband RF and IR to let you control just about anything you can throw at it, along with an included base station to accommodate various IR and RS-232 components and, of course, a built-in rechargeable battery and charging base. No word on a price just yet, but URC says the MSRP will be "less than $1,500." Yes, fifteen hundred dollars.

Filed under: ,

URC debuts MX-5000 universal remote with haptic feedback originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>haptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhdmx-5000othersremoteuniversal remoteUniversalRemoteurcurc mx-5000UrcMx-5000Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple patent applications offer glimpses of haptic screens, RFID readers, fingerprint ID]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/apple-patent-applications-offer-glimpses-of-haptic-screens-rfid/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/apple-patent-applications-offer-glimpses-of-haptic-screens-rfid/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/apple-patent-applications-offer-glimpses-of-haptic-screens-rfid/#comments
Alright, so you know the drill by now. A patent application doesn't necessarily mean an actual product is on the way -- but it's always fun to speculate, right? And this latest trio of applications from Apple certainly provides plenty of speculation fodder. The most notable of the lot is an application for a "multi-touch display screen with localized tactile feedback," which Apple seems to be at least considering as a possibility for the iPhone (or iPod touch). Like some similar systems, Apple's application covers a screen that uses a grid of piezoelectric actuators that can be activated at will to provide vibrational feedback when you touch the screen. Apple even goes so far as to use a virtual click wheel on an iPhone as an example. Other patent applications include a fairly self-explanatory RFID reader embedded in a touch screen, and a fingerprint identification system that could not only be used for security, but to identify individual fingers as an input method -- for instance, letting you use your index finger for play/stop and your middle finger to fast forward.

Filed under: , , ,

Apple patent applications offer glimpses of haptic screens, RFID readers, fingerprint ID originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple patentapple patent applicationApplePatentApplePatentApplicationfingerprintfingerprint idfingerprint identificationFingerprintIdFingerprintIdentificationhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackpatentpatent applicationPatentApplicationrfidrfid readerRfidReaderThu, 02 Jul 2009 12:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Viliv S5 Air, HSDPA-equipped Air Ready coming to China in June]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/27/viliv-s5-air-hsdpa-equipped-air-ready-coming-to-china-in-june/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/27/viliv-s5-air-hsdpa-equipped-air-ready-coming-to-china-in-june/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/27/viliv-s5-air-hsdpa-equipped-air-ready-coming-to-china-in-june/#comments The Viliv S5 has had its fair share of positive reviews, in spite of its not-as-friendly $600 price tag, and now it looks like the company's ready to up the ante with the S5 Air and S5 Air Ready, according to a report from our friends at Engadget Chinese. From what we gather, both will see an improved, haptic keyboard and support Chinese character input / handwriting input, while the Air Ready also throws in HSDPA to boot. Those in the country can pick one up reportedly in June for an as of yet unknown price, while the rest of us around the world will just have to wait and see if Viliv decides to launch it anywhere else.

Filed under: ,

Viliv S5 Air, HSDPA-equipped Air Ready coming to China in June originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 May 2009 00:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air readyAirReadyhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbacks5s5 airs5 air readyS5AirS5AirReadyvilivviliv s5viliv s5 airviliv s5 air readyVilivS5VilivS5AirVilivS5AirReadyWed, 27 May 2009 00:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Artificial Muscle makes touchy devices burlier]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/24/artificial-muscle-makes-touchy-devices-burlier/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/24/artificial-muscle-makes-touchy-devices-burlier/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/24/artificial-muscle-makes-touchy-devices-burlier/#commentsArtificial Muscle makes touchy devices burlier
In the future we envision artificial muscle driving our cybernetic soldiers and helping to repair our fleshier ones. In the present, though, it seems the tech is starting a little smaller, at least it is in the case of Artificial Muscle (the company), which has developed tech enabling a silicon film to expand or contract when a voltage is applied to it. It's currently being used to create small pumps and linear actuators and the like, and is now is being pitched as a solution for feedback in touch-sensitive devices. The silicon film is thin enough to be inserted beneath a touchpad or touchscreen, moving the surface appropriately depending on what you're stroking on-screen as shown in a video demonstration below. Impressively this tech will only cost "a couple dollars" to add to any given device, meaning even cheap netbooks could start coming with fidgity touchpads soon. Now that is progress.

Continue reading Artificial Muscle makes touchy devices burlier

Filed under:

Artificial Muscle makes touchy devices burlier originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificial muscleArtificialMusclehaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackmuscletouchpadtouchscreenFri, 24 Apr 2009 08:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Viliv S5 reviewed, is mostly smiles with good video playback]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/24/viliv-s5-reviewed-is-mostly-smiles-with-good-video-playback/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/24/viliv-s5-reviewed-is-mostly-smiles-with-good-video-playback/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/24/viliv-s5-reviewed-is-mostly-smiles-with-good-video-playback/#comments You've seen its introduction, its unboxing -- in two different languages, no less -- and maybe even fancied the pre-order page. Now Pocketables has what appears to be one of the first full-fledged review of the Viliv S5, and the verdict? It's quite a sturdy and well-built MID, with surprisingly good battery life and video performance from the Intel Atom Z520 processor (same one as found in the Vaio P). The virtual keyboard leaves a lot to be desired for, and it's a shame to hear the joystick's mouse functionality is limited to four directions, but despite these complaints and a $599 price tag, the conclusion is still a overwhelmingly positive for those who like the form factor. Hit up the read link for the full examination.

Filed under: ,

Viliv S5 reviewed, is mostly smiles with good video playback originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>haptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackmidpmpreviewsrevviews5tablettablet pcTabletPctouch screenTouchScreenumpcvilivviliv s5VilivS5windowswindows xpWindowsXpxpFri, 24 Apr 2009 03:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Viliv S5 unboxed in beautiful, epic video]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/22/viliv-s5-unboxed-in-beautiful-epic-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/22/viliv-s5-unboxed-in-beautiful-epic-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/22/viliv-s5-unboxed-in-beautiful-epic-video/#comments

We've had our eyes and hands all over Viliv's S5 for quite some time now, but we'll freely admit that we kind of can't get enough of the little guy. Well, until now, maybe. jkkmobile's got an exhaustive video unboxing which shows the device off quite nicely -- its 4.8-inch haptic touchscreen looks super responsive -- and overall, this UMPC is shaping up to be one decently impressive piece of work. They're expected to ship around May 8th in the U.S. for $599. Video is after the break -- it's a little long, but be sure to stick with it until the end, when Ilsa takes off in a plane for America, leaving a teary-eyed Rick on the tarmac. You won't be disappointed.

Continue reading Viliv S5 unboxed in beautiful, epic video

Filed under:

Viliv S5 unboxed in beautiful, epic video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atomhaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackmids5tablet pctablet pcsTabletPcTabletPcsumpcunboxingvideovilivviliv s5VilivS5Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Viliv S5 pre-order details firm up: $599 and it's yours May 8th]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/19/viliv-s5-pre-order-details-firm-up-599-and-its-yours-may-8th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/19/viliv-s5-pre-order-details-firm-up-599-and-its-yours-may-8th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/19/viliv-s5-pre-order-details-firm-up-599-and-its-yours-may-8th/#comments
It's been a long and winding road filled with unboxings, impressions, and comparisons, but it looks like the last few details surrounding the U.S. release of Viliv's Atom-powered S5 MID have now finally been firmed up. According to retailer Dynamism, the device will be available for pre-order on April 27th (at 1PM Eastern) for just $599, or $50 less than previously expected, with the first orders expected to ship on May 8th. Better still, those that pre-order the S5 will also get a free spare battery, a car kit, and a leather pouch, which Dynamism says is a $135 value. No word on the number of units available in that initial batch but, if the Hong Kong and Korean releases are any indication, they could sell out pretty quickly.

[Via thegadgetsite, thanks K.C.]

Filed under:

Viliv S5 pre-order details firm up: $599 and it's yours May 8th originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atomdynamismhandheldhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackmidpre-orders5silverthornetablettablet pcTabletPcvilivviliv s5VilivS5Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Philips wants to get you in the movies -- or at least into a goofy vibrating jacket]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/20/philips-wants-to-get-you-in-the-movies-or-at-least-into-a-goo/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/20/philips-wants-to-get-you-in-the-movies-or-at-least-into-a-goo/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/20/philips-wants-to-get-you-in-the-movies-or-at-least-into-a-goo/#commentsPhilips wants to get you in the movies -- or at least into a goofy vibrating jacketPhilips has definitely done more for sensory immersion than most with its amBX line of... things, but a general shortage of people willing to mount fans or rumbling wrist rests on their keyboards hasn't kept the company from developing what it thinks is next: a vibrating jacket. The unnamed and triangle-patterned coat features 64 little rumblers distributed throughout, all powered by a pair of AA batteries. The intent is to better immerse you into movies by, say, replicating a light touch running up either arm or simulating an actor's beating heartbeat -- "emotional immersion" they call it. We're not so sure this will be any more compelling than the vibrating vests companies have been trying to sell gamers (and the military) for years, but we do know that Philips had better watch out for lawyers from Immersion.

[Via Slashdot]

Filed under:

Philips wants to get you in the movies -- or at least into a goofy vibrating jacket originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambxhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhapticsphilipsphilips ambxPhilipsAmbxvibrationFri, 20 Mar 2009 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Viliv's S5 MID goes haptic, will move you in March]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/vilivs-s5-mid-goes-haptic-will-move-you-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/vilivs-s5-mid-goes-haptic-will-move-you-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/vilivs-s5-mid-goes-haptic-will-move-you-in-march/#commentsViliv's S5 MID goes haptic, will move you in March
Viliv has been showing some potential lately with its touchable upcoming products, the clean looking S7 netbook tablet and S5 MID. We received some further information on the latter of those two this morning, most notable being the inclusion of haptic feedback that should make its 4.8-inch, 800 x 480 1024 x 600 screen feel a little more tactile. We also got confirmation that the device will be running Windows XP hidden behind a custom UI overlay that, we presume, will be similar to the one we saw running at CES on the S7. Still no price, but the company is aiming for a March release domestically. Our fingers are tingling with anticipation.

Gallery: Viliv S5

Filed under: ,

Viliv's S5 MID goes haptic, will move you in March originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atomhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackintel atomIntelAtommids5touchscreenvilivviliv s5VilivS5windows xpWindowsXpTue, 03 Feb 2009 11:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Immersion ready to get haptic technology into Android phones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/immersion-ready-to-get-haptic-technology-into-android-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/immersion-ready-to-get-haptic-technology-into-android-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/immersion-ready-to-get-haptic-technology-into-android-phones/#commentsImmersion's no stranger to bringing haptic feedback to cellphones, and if it has its way, it'll be on an Android-powered cellie in the very near future. The developer and licensor of touch feedback technology has proudly (very proudly, in fact) announced that its touch tech is now available for implementation in Android phones. Few details are spilled to the general populace, but we are informed that makers of Android handsets can "now easily add haptics to dramatically improve the mobile user experience." Of course, the back end of that statement is totally subjective, but don't blame these guys if your next Android phone doesn't buzz with each button press.

Filed under: ,

Immersion ready to get haptic technology into Android phones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgooglehaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackImmersionmobileOHAopen handset allianceOpenHandsetAlliancetouch feedbackTouchFeedbackvibetonzFri, 09 Jan 2009 18:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Oracom's W30 PMP, slathered in haptic goodness]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/19/oracoms-w30-pmp-slathered-in-haptic-goodness/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/19/oracoms-w30-pmp-slathered-in-haptic-goodness/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/19/oracoms-w30-pmp-slathered-in-haptic-goodness/#comments
It's been a while since an Oracom PMP caught our attention, but our ears perked up with news of its W30 rolling out later this month. Although the specs aren't anything out of the ordinary -- dictionary, DMB TV / FM tuner, and 4GB of memory to store whatever your little heart desires -- we're intrigued to see a haptic touchscreen device selling for the reasonable price of $180. The tiny 240 x 400 3-inch display is our only deterrent -- show us a flexible widescreen version and we'll talk.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under:

Oracom's W30 PMP, slathered in haptic goodness originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>haptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackoracomOracom W30 PMPOracomW30Pmppmpportable videoportablevideoW30Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display creates haptic 3D objects you can poke]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/03/airborne-ultrasound-tactile-display-creates-haptic-3d-objects-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/03/airborne-ultrasound-tactile-display-creates-haptic-3d-objects-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/03/airborne-ultrasound-tactile-display-creates-haptic-3d-objects-yo/#commentsUltrasound Haptic
Sure, you may have your fancy vibrating controllers and liquid-injecting touch screens, but Takayuki Iwamoto wants you to play with the air. Iwamoto and some of his buddies at the University of Tokyo have come up with a way to use focused ultrasound to create manipulable virtual objects in space. Using multiple transducers, the "Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display" creates an acoustic radiation pressure field. Holding your hand in the field allows you to "feel" the object, manipulate it, and feel response. Right now, the system only creates a vertical field, but you had better bet that Iwamoto is working on that. As for suitable applications, interest has already been shown from both industrial and gaming developers. No word on the hentai industry taking note, but that can't be too far away. Check the video after the break to see this tech in action.

[Via BBC News]

Continue reading Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display creates haptic 3D objects you can poke

Filed under: ,

Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display creates haptic 3D objects you can poke originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airborne ultrasound tactile displayAirborneUltrasoundTactileDisplayhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhapticsiwamotouniversity of tokyoUniversityOfTokyoWed, 03 Sep 2008 09:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia's Haptikos tactile feedback tech revealed in patent application]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/08/nokias-haptikos-tactile-feedback-tech-revealed-in-patent-applic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/08/nokias-haptikos-tactile-feedback-tech-revealed-in-patent-applic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/08/nokias-haptikos-tactile-feedback-tech-revealed-in-patent-applic/#commentsNokia Haptikos
It's been a while since we've heard anything about Nokia's Haptikos tactile touch screen technology, but with the unearthing of some juicy patent details, we finally know what's going on here. Basically, the tech uses layers under the touchscreen to allow control of surface roughness and friction. The patent describes a "plurality of closely space voltage controllable protruberances" that can raise or lower based on where the user is touching the screen, resulting in what feels like resistance and tactile feedback. Filled with fluid, the protruberances increase fiction and help users feel like they're actually touching something rather than poking at a plane of glass. No word on any devices with the new haptic tech, but we wouldn't be surprised to see this show up in some of their new touchy-feely handsets in the near future.

[Via Unwired View]

Read - Patent Application (warning: PDF)

Filed under: ,

Nokia's Haptikos tactile feedback tech revealed in patent application originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>haptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhapticshaptikosmobilenokianokia haptikosNokiaHaptikosTue, 08 Jul 2008 19:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia's Haptikos tactile feedback tech revealed in patent application]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/08/nokias-haptikos-tactile-feedback-tech-revealed-in-patent-applic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/08/nokias-haptikos-tactile-feedback-tech-revealed-in-patent-applic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/08/nokias-haptikos-tactile-feedback-tech-revealed-in-patent-applic/#commentsNokia Haptikos
It's been a while since we've heard anything about Nokia's Haptikos tactile touch screen technology, but with the unearthing of some juicy patent details, we finally know what's going on here. Basically, the tech uses layers under the touchscreen to allow control of surface roughness and friction. The patent describes a "plurality of closely space voltage controllable protruberances" that can raise or lower based on where the user is touching the screen, resulting in what feels like resistance and tactile feedback. Filled with fluid, the protruberances increase fiction and help users feel like they're actually touching something rather than poking at a plane of glass. No word on any devices with the new haptic tech, but we wouldn't be surprised to see this show up in some of their new touchy-feely handsets in the near future.

[Via Unwired View]

Read - Patent Application (warning: PDF)

Filed under: ,

Nokia's Haptikos tactile feedback tech revealed in patent application originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>haptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhapticshaptikosnokia haptikosNokiaHaptikosTue, 08 Jul 2008 19:05:00 EST