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[Researchers suggest haptics and audio for discreet password input]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/09/researchers-suggest-haptics-and-audio-for-discreet-password-inpu/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/09/researchers-suggest-haptics-and-audio-for-discreet-password-inpu/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/09/researchers-suggest-haptics-and-audio-for-discreet-password-inpu/#comments Researchers suggest haptics and audio for discreet password inputYou can use as complex as a password as you like, but that won't do you much good if someone's able to watch or record you entering it. Researchers Andrea Bianchi, Ian Oakley and Dong-Soo Kwon have some ideas for overcoming that little problem though, and recently put together a video demonstrating a few of the possibilities they've come up with. All of those rely on haptic input systems -- either on their own or in conjunction with some audio output (through headphones for privacy). That includes things like a dedicated haptic keypad or haptic wheel, and different methods that could take advantage of a haptic display on a smartphone. As you can see in the video after the break, some of those options could be a bit more time consuming than an easy-to-remember password, but there's certainly plenty of potential applications where security would trump convenience.

[Thanks, An]

Continue reading Researchers suggest haptics and audio for discreet password input

Researchers suggest haptics and audio for discreet password input originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 02:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>haptichaptic inputHapticInputhapticsinputpasswordpasswordssecuritytactilevideoMon, 09 Apr 2012 02:06:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T Labs, Carnegie Mellon research haptic-feedback steering wheel for turn-by-turn directions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/25/att-labs-carnegie-mellon-haptic-steering-wheel/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/25/att-labs-carnegie-mellon-haptic-steering-wheel/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/25/att-labs-carnegie-mellon-haptic-steering-wheel/#comments A force-feedback steering wheel. It's quite literally the stuff of racing games, and AT&T labs, along with Carnegie Mellon, is researching the possibly of throwing similar tech into your real-world whip. MIT's Technology Review recently highlighted the project, which uses 20 vibrating actuators shoved inside of a steering wheel to create a variety of patterns -- a counter-clockwise sequence could indicate a left turn, for example. As you might have guessed, one of the goals is to keep drivers less distracted by the likes of visual turn-by-turn GPS navigators and more focused on the road. While it's currently being tested with driving simulators, the results are positive so far, if a bit modest. When supplemented with typical audio / visual navigation, folks near the age of 25 kept their eyes planted on the asphalt for 3.1 percent more time than without it. Notably, the improvement wasn't found with those over 65 in the aforementioned instance, however, supplemented with just the audio, the vibrating wheel had them focusing on the road by an increase of four percent.

According to Technology Review, this isn't the first time haptic feedback has been tested as a driving aid, although past tests have, notably, resulted in "fewer turn errors" by those behind the wheel. Best of all, the tech is capable of sending more than just navigation cues -- it could certainly be useful in a Telsa. So when can you expect to find a force-feedback steering wheel in your ride? Technology Review cites Kevin Li, an AT&T Labs researcher on the project, who says the main hurdle is making something that people will just "get," and that it's still "years" away from becoming a possibility. While there's no photos of the setup just yet, a full report on the research will get released in June. Hey, there's always Forza and Gran Turismo, at least for now -- right?

AT&T Labs, Carnegie Mellon research haptic-feedback steering wheel for turn-by-turn directions originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attatt labsAttLabsfeedbackforce feedbackForceFeedbackhaptichaptic steeringHapticSteeringKevin LiKevinLiresearchSeungJun KimSeungjunKimsteering wheelSteeringWheeltun-by-turn navigationTun-by-turnNavigationvibrationwheelSun, 25 Mar 2012 14:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia applies for skin-friendly haptic material patent, hints at notification system]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/nokia-applies-haptic-material-patent/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/nokia-applies-haptic-material-patent/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/nokia-applies-haptic-material-patent/#comments If US patent application 20120062371 is to be correctly understood, Nokia has at least thought about a topical haptic notification system. The first claim covers "An apparatus comprising: a material attachable to skin, the material capable of detecting a magnetic field and transferring a perceivable stimulus to the skin, wherein the perceivable stimulus relates to the magnetic field." It then goes on to clarify its relation to telecommunications messages and communications indications. Based on ferromagnetic powder, the material would respond to magnetic fields and vibrate in response. Our guess is that this could be used as a notifier that could be "painted" onto the skin, and although there is mention of the word tattoo, we're hoping that's just part of the required legalese. But alas, until it's granted, it's just a subject of our curious imaginations. Those curious, can read more at the source.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Nokia applies for skin-friendly haptic material patent, hints at notification system originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonesferromagneticferromagnetic powderFerromagneticPowderhapticmobile notificationsMobileNotificationsnokianotificationnotification systemnotificationsNotificationSystemnotifierpaintablepatentpatent applicationPatentApplicationphonephonesskintattootopicalvibrating alertVibratingAlertFri, 16 Mar 2012 12:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Experimental controller has 'thumbstick within thumbstick' for blistering sensations (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/experimental-controller-has-thumbstick-within-thumbstick/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/experimental-controller-has-thumbstick-within-thumbstick/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/experimental-controller-has-thumbstick-within-thumbstick/#comments Experimental controller has 'thumbpad within a thumbpad'Just when you thought slingshots were the future, here comes a whole new way to enjoy baddie deletion in Uncharted 7. Each thumbstick on the prototype controller above has a secondary force feedback-enabled nub at its center, which moves independently and creates different sensations by stretching the skin on the pad of your opposable digit. In the video after the break, the designers at the University of Utah show how they've created effects for crawling, collisions, explosions and even fishing. They're apparently hoping to push their technology into next-gen games consoles, but they'll have to join the queue.

Continue reading Experimental controller has 'thumbstick within thumbstick' for blistering sensations (video)

Experimental controller has 'thumbstick within thumbstick' for blistering sensations (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controllerforce feedbackForceFeedbackgames consolegames controllerGamesConsoleGamesControllergaminghapticnext-gen games consoleNext-genGamesConsoleprototypesensationtactilethumbthumbpadthumbsticktouchuniversity of utahUniversityOfUtahvideoTue, 06 Mar 2012 07:22:00 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[Cryoscope gadget simulates tomorrow's weather today (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/cryoscope-gadget-simulates-tomorrows-weather-today-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/cryoscope-gadget-simulates-tomorrows-weather-today-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/cryoscope-gadget-simulates-tomorrows-weather-today-video/#comments This multi-layered device can't shower you with hail or tan your outdoor-deprived complexion, regrettably. What it can do though, is deliver a direct haptic sensation of how warm or cold it'll be tomorrow, just in case you decide to venture out of your bedroom. An Arduino controller pulls in forecast data from the web and uses it to adjust a Peltier element and a cooling fan, which are housed along with a heat sink inside a neat and tactile aluminum box. The Cryoscope is the handiwork of industrial design student Robb Godshaw, and it's the reason he already knew he'd be wearing a skinny t-shirt and stripey socks in the video after the break.

Continue reading Cryoscope gadget simulates tomorrow's weather today (video)

Cryoscope gadget simulates tomorrow's weather today (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arduinodesignforecasthapticheat sinkHeatSinkindustrial designIndustrialDesignpeltier elementPeltierElementRobb GodshawRobbGodshawrochester institute of technologyRochesterInstituteOfTechnologysensationtemperaturetouchvideoweatherweather forecastWeatherForecastMon, 06 Feb 2012 08:28:00 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[German researchers create smudge repellent coating from candle soot]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/04/german-researchers-create-smudge-repellent-coating-from-candle-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/04/german-researchers-create-smudge-repellent-coating-from-candle-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/04/german-researchers-create-smudge-repellent-coating-from-candle-s/#comments While they're working on the lack of feedback, and need for exposed skin problems for touch screens, that other gripe -- dirty smudges -- could soon be wiped-out permanently. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz obviously had enough of sleeve-cleaning their devices and created a coating that could usher in a smudge-free world. The discovery comes after the team applied candle soot to glass and then coated it in silica to keep it in place. The glass is then heated to a bratwurst-baking 600 ºC for calcination, which makes the soot transparent -- somewhat handy for screens. To test, different oils and solvents were applied, but the glass' superamphiphobic properties soon fended them off. A resilient coating sounds a little more straight-forward than what Apple recently applied to patent, but until either of these see the light of day, you'd better keep that Brasso close by.

German researchers create smudge repellent coating from candle soot originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brassocalcinationcandlecandle sootCandleSootcleaningcoatinggermanglassgreasehapticMainzmaterialMax Planckmax planck instituteMaxPlanckMaxPlanckInstitutepolymerresearcherssciencescreensilicasmudgesmudge-freesootsuperamphiphobictactiletouchscreenSun, 04 Dec 2011 14:16:00 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[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['Phantom sensation' haptic tech recreates the feeling of getting virtually stabbed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/phantom-sensation-haptic-tech-recreates-the-feeling-of-getting/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/phantom-sensation-haptic-tech-recreates-the-feeling-of-getting/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/phantom-sensation-haptic-tech-recreates-the-feeling-of-getting/#comments When it comes to gaming, the more realistic the better, right? Sure, it's all fun until we start talking about being virtually sliced with a battle axe or pelted with a rocket launcher -- exactly the idea behind a new technology dubbed "phantom sensation." Researchers at the University of Electro-Communications know that to virtually recreate the feeling of touch, they need to apply vibrations to two points of skin. Taking the idea one step further, they applied the stimuli to either side of the body to mimic what it might feel like if the object actually passed through. Using a tweaked Wii, as an item in the game travels through the player's hand, the top sensor vibrates intensely at first, then subsides to zero. At this point, the bottom probe kicks in, going from zero to strong until the object is cleared -- leaving the player feeling slightly violated and virtually gored. Check out the (relatively) painless demonstration video after the break.

Continue reading 'Phantom sensation' haptic tech recreates the feeling of getting virtually stabbed

'Phantom sensation' haptic tech recreates the feeling of getting virtually stabbed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>feelinggaminghaptichaptic technologyhaptic touchHapticTechnologyHapticTouchKajimoto research groupKajimotoResearchGroupphantom sensationPhantomSensationtouchUniversity of Electro-CommunicationsUniversityOfElectro-communicationsvideoThu, 15 Sep 2011 06:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Audio-Haptic Navigation Environment makes music the hands-free way (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/08/audio-haptic-navigation-environment-makes-music-the-hands-free-w/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/08/audio-haptic-navigation-environment-makes-music-the-hands-free-w/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/08/audio-haptic-navigation-environment-makes-music-the-hands-free-w/#comments You've heard of pianists, flutists and organists, but have you heard of Thereminists? The title, originally applied to players of another hands-free instrument from the 1920s, has been repurposed for those who can manipulate invisible sounds in a 3D space called an Audio-Haptic Navigation Environment (AHNE). By tweaking a Kinect sensor and using the OpenNI framework and OSCeleton, researchers at the SOPI Research Group at Media Lab Helsinki were able to create an AHNE "proof concept" called "Tension." Outfitting a volunteer with sensor-laden gloves with a small vibration motor for haptic feedback, they were able to create "music" -- add a pinch of Pitbull, and you're looking at the world's next great mellow anthem. Check out the full music video after the break.

Continue reading Audio-Haptic Navigation Environment makes music the hands-free way (video)

Audio-Haptic Navigation Environment makes music the hands-free way (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AHNEAudio-Haptic Navigation EnvironmentAudio-hapticNavigationEnvironmenthapticMedia Lab HelsinkiMediaLabHelsinkimicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectOpenNIOSCeletonsonic feedbackSonicFeedbackSOPI Research GroupSopiResearchGrouptensionThereministsvideoThu, 08 Sep 2011 12:33:00 EST<![CDATA[HAPMAP navigational system keeps your eyes on the prize, your hands on the route (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/hapmap-navigational-system-keeps-your-eyes-on-the-prize-your-ha/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/hapmap-navigational-system-keeps-your-eyes-on-the-prize-your-ha/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/hapmap-navigational-system-keeps-your-eyes-on-the-prize-your-ha/#comments Alternative navigational systems aren't exactly new, but the concept shown here just might have wings. HAPMAP was one of a handful of projects selected for demonstration at SIGGRAPH's E-tech event, aiming to keep a human's eye away from the map (and in turn, on whatever's in front of them) by developing a system that guides via haptics. With a handheld device capable of both navigating and vibrating, the interface indicates complex navigation cues that follow the curvature of a road or path -- it's far more detailed than the typical "go straight," and there's also opportunity here to provide handicapped individuals with a method for getting to previously inaccessible locales. By mimicking the operation and interface of sliding handrails (as well as using motion capture cameras), it's particularly useful for the visually impaired, who need these subtle cues to successfully navigate a winding path. Hop on past the break for a couple of demonstration vids.

Gallery: HAPMAP navigational system demo at SIGGRAPH 2011

Continue reading HAPMAP navigational system keeps your eyes on the prize, your hands on the route (video)

HAPMAP navigational system keeps your eyes on the prize, your hands on the route (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demodemonstrationgpshands-onhapmaphapticnavnavigationnavigationalroutingsiggraphsiggraph 2011Siggraph2011tactilevideoFri, 12 Aug 2011 15:47:00 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[Surround Haptics could bring force feedback to vests, coasters and gaming (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/surround-haptics-could-bring-force-feedback-to-vests-coasters-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/surround-haptics-could-bring-force-feedback-to-vests-coasters-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/surround-haptics-could-bring-force-feedback-to-vests-coasters-a/#comments Haptics and gaming have gone hand in hand for centuries it seems -- well before the Rumble Pak made itself an N64 staple, we vividly recall snapping up a vibration jumpsuit for our Sega Genesis. 'Course, it was on clearance for a reason. Ali Israr et al. were on hand here at SIGGRAPH's E-tech conference to demonstrate the next big leap in haptics, joining hands with Disney Research in order to showcase a buzzing game chair for use with Split/Second. The seat shown in the gallery (and video) below cost around $5,000 to concoct, with well over a dozen high-end coils tucked neatly into what looked to be a snazzy padding set for an otherwise uneventful seating apparatus.

We sat down with members of the research team here in Vancouver, and while the gaming demo was certainly interesting, it's really just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The outgoing engineers from Black Rock Studios helped the team wire stereoscopic audio triggers to the sensors, with a left crash, right scrape and a head-on collision causing the internal coils to react accordingly. Admittedly, the demo worked well, but it didn't exactly feel comfortable. In other words -- we can't exactly say we'd be first in line to pick one of these up for our living room.

Gallery: Surround Haptics force feedback chair at SIGGRAPH 2011

Continue reading Surround Haptics could bring force feedback to vests, coasters and gaming (video)

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Surround Haptics could bring force feedback to vests, coasters and gaming (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneydisney researchDisneyResearchgaminghands-onhapticresearchsiggraphsiggraph 2011Siggraph2011Surround HapticsSurroundHapticsvideoThu, 11 Aug 2011 15:25:00 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[US Army testing haptic belt that nudges soldiers in the right direction]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/us-army-testing-haptic-belt-that-nudges-soldiers-in-the-right-di/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/us-army-testing-haptic-belt-that-nudges-soldiers-in-the-right-di/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/us-army-testing-haptic-belt-that-nudges-soldiers-in-the-right-di/#commentsHaptic belts and other wearable devices that can guide you may not exactly be a new idea -- we've even seen some DIY attempts -- but the US Army testing them? Well, that's something worth noting. As New Scientist reports, the Army Research Office in North Carolina is now working on just such a device (likely more advanced than the one pictured here), and hopes that the belts could eventually be used to remotely guide soldiers on the battlefield. That's done with a combination of GPS, an accelerometer and a compass -- and, of course, the haptic part of the equation, which vibrates or pulses to point the soldier in the right direction, or indicate when they're nearing their target. The idea there being to reduce the need for any handheld devices (at least until thought helmets become a reality), which can both take the soldiers' eyes off the battlefield and potentially reveal their position at night. There's still no indication as to when the belts might actually see use in the field, but early tests show that they're at least as accurate as a handheld GPS, and the soldiers say they actually prefer it.

[Image credit: Sreekar Krishna]

US Army testing haptic belt that nudges soldiers in the right direction originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armyarmy research officeArmyResearchOfficebelthaptichaptic beltHapticBeltsoldiersoldiersus armyUsArmywargadgetThu, 30 Jun 2011 00:52:00 EST<![CDATA[DataBot mouse and HDD concepts give weight to files, encourage data purges (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/databot-mouse-and-hdd-concepts-give-weight-to-files-encourage-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/databot-mouse-and-hdd-concepts-give-weight-to-files-encourage-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/databot-mouse-and-hdd-concepts-give-weight-to-files-encourage-d/#comments Mice have been a computing mainstay since pretty close to the dawn of the PC, but they don't offer much in terms of information about the on-screen data you're interacting with. What if they featured physical feedback to tip you off to things like the size of the files you're moving around? Two German students have answered that question likely before you even had a chance to ask. The result is an admittedly cool concept that slows the roll of your mouse, giving files the feeling weight based on the size of their contents. A "breathing" feature can also clue you in to how much a given file has been used. Also worthy of mention is their DataBot Harddrive concept, which expands and contracts based on the amount of space being used up. Video of weirdly lifelike peripherals after the break.

Continue reading DataBot mouse and HDD concepts give weight to files, encourage data purges (video)

DataBot mouse and HDD concepts give weight to files, encourage data purges (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conceptdatabotfilegmhaptichard driveHardDrivehddjan barthJanBarthmouseprototyperoman grassyRomanGrassyvideoWed, 15 Jun 2011 16:06:00 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[Robotic wheelchair uses 3D imaging to 'see' for visually impaired drivers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/13/robotic-wheelchair-uses-3d-imaging-to-see-for-visually-impaire/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/13/robotic-wheelchair-uses-3d-imaging-to-see-for-visually-impaire/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/13/robotic-wheelchair-uses-3d-imaging-to-see-for-visually-impaire/#comments You may not be able to control it with your mind, but this robotic wheelchair from Sweden's Luleå University of Technology can still offer something that only a few others can -- "sight." The chair uses a laser sensor to generate a 3D map of its surroundings, which is then transferred to an on-board haptic robot, allowing the bot to pick up on and navigate its way around any obstacles. A visually impaired student already took the contraption out for a spin and said he felt "safe" while traveling through crowded corridors, comparing the experience to "using a white cane." Luleå's engineers, however, still have some fine tuning to do. The laser, for instance, can only recognize objects at a specific height, while ignoring everything above or below its field of vision. Researchers are also busy developing a new 3D camera for the chair and are hoping to have it ready for commercial use within the next five years. There's a full PR waiting for you after the break.

Continue reading Robotic wheelchair uses 3D imaging to 'see' for visually impaired drivers

Robotic wheelchair uses 3D imaging to 'see' for visually impaired drivers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 May 2011 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D3d camera3D mapping3dCamera3dMappingblindcamerachairhandicappedhaptichaptic robotHapticRobotlaserlulea university of technologyLuleaUniversityOfTechnologyLuleå UniversityLuleåUniversitymapnavigationobstaclesrobotic wheelchairroboticsRoboticWheelchairsightsightedswedenVisuallyImpairedwheelchairFri, 13 May 2011 13:11:00 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[NEC's ArmKeypad lets you play charades to control your media player (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/16/necs-armkeypad-lets-you-play-charades-to-control-your-media-pla/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/16/necs-armkeypad-lets-you-play-charades-to-control-your-media-pla/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/16/necs-armkeypad-lets-you-play-charades-to-control-your-media-pla/#comments Okay, two words, sounds like... wait, it's one word? Okay, two words in one. First word, three letters, sounds like "arm." Oh, it is "arm." Okay, second word. You're typing. Typing on keys. It's keyboard. It's not a keyboard? No, it is a keyboard. The word isn't "keyboard?" Really? Maybe "keypad?" It's "keypad!" What the heck is an ArmKeypad? Turns out it's NEC's attempt at letting us control our portable devices using charades-like gestures, which we first heard about last week. You can tap your arms in different places to control volume or skip tracks, even clap your hands if you're happy and your want your PMP to know it. The system relies on a wrist-borne accelerometer that detects the impacts and, while the video below looks a bit goofy, that's far better than fumbling with your smartphone while sucking wind on your thrice-weekly runs. And, it's certainly far simpler than the projected Skinput. NEC expects to have this tech built into a watch-like device sometime within the next two years. That watch had better have a calculator.

Continue reading NEC's ArmKeypad lets you play charades to control your media player (video)

NEC's ArmKeypad lets you play charades to control your media player (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerometerarmkeypadconcepthaptichaptic controlHapticControljoggingnecpmpportable media playerPortableMediaPlayerprototyperunningtouchvideowatchWed, 16 Mar 2011 13:56:00 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[Axon Logic's Haptic tablet can run a desktop's OS, has a desktop's price]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/13/axon-logics-haptic-tablet-can-run-a-desktops-os-has-a-deskto/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/13/axon-logics-haptic-tablet-can-run-a-desktops-os-has-a-deskto/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/13/axon-logics-haptic-tablet-can-run-a-desktops-os-has-a-deskto/#comments Half a year ago, you'd have been forgiven for expecting that today both Windows 7 and Mac OS X would have flagship tablets representing them, in the shape of the HP Slate and the Apple iPad. Alas, one of those devices ran away to enterprise land and the other opted for a mobile OS. It's against this backdrop of disappointment that Axon's Haptic tablet enters, with confirmation that its Atom-based innards are fully compatible with Linux, Windows and Mac operating environments. With a 10.1-inch resistive touchscreen, 320GB HDD, 2GB of RAM, and a trio of USB ports, it's another of those devices you could classify as a keyboard-less netbook, but at least its OS versatility will give it a leg up. Then again, with a pre-order price of $750 and no bundled OS licenses, we suspect it might need a little more than that to succeed where so many have failed.

Axon Logic's Haptic tablet can run a desktop's OS, has a desktop's price originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>axonaxon hapticaxon logicAxonHapticAxonLogichackintoshhapticlinuxmac osmac os xmacintoshMacOsMacOsXpre-orderpre-ordersslatetabletwindowsFri, 13 Aug 2010 04:13:00 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[Immerz KOR-fx acousto-haptic contraption hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/immerz-kor-fx-acousto-haptic-contraption-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/immerz-kor-fx-acousto-haptic-contraption-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/immerz-kor-fx-acousto-haptic-contraption-hands-on/#comments
Feeling the limitations of your aging Aura Interactor vest? Then you might just be the rare sort of customer that Immerz is after with its new KOR-fx "acousto-haptic" wearable device. As you might have suspected, the device doesn't exactly blow you away when you strap it on, but it is at least somewhat more impressive than a pair of speakers strapped to your chest. That might be enough to get by if it was priced for an impulse buy, but at a hefty $180 it's clearly landed in the smallest of niche markets -- the fact that it feels unnervingly like a medical device of some sort when you have it on doesn't help things either. Head on past the break for a quick video, and hit up the gallery below for a closer look.

Gallery: Immerz KOR-fx acousto-haptic contraption hands-on

Continue reading Immerz KOR-fx acousto-haptic contraption hands-on

Immerz KOR-fx acousto-haptic contraption hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acousto-hapticcesces 2010Ces2010hands-onhapticimmerzimmerz kor-fxImmerzKor-fxkor-fxkorfxThu, 07 Jan 2010 23:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Immerz KOR-fx 'acousto-haptic' gaming tech gets a ship date]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/immerz-kor-fx-acousto-haptic-gaming-tech-gets-a-ship-date/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/immerz-kor-fx-acousto-haptic-gaming-tech-gets-a-ship-date/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/immerz-kor-fx-acousto-haptic-gaming-tech-gets-a-ship-date/#comments
The kids at Immerz want you to know that KOR-fx, the "acousto-haptic technology" that you never knew you wanted, is set to make its all star debut at CES this week. Compatible with any machine that sports audio, the device is essentially a set of speakers that deliver "nearly imperceptible vibrations" to areas of the chest -- activating various neural pathways and creating "a more immersive entertainment experience" somewhat akin to "an uncanny '7th Sense' awareness," reinventing "all forms of multi-media entertainment" in the process. Never mind 3D, your gaming experience just got exceptionally creepy! This bad boy has been available for pre-order for a while now at the princely sum of $190, so if you already made the leap you can expect delivery sometime in May. PR after the break, yo.

Continue reading Immerz KOR-fx 'acousto-haptic' gaming tech gets a ship date

Immerz KOR-fx 'acousto-haptic' gaming tech gets a ship date originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acousto-hapticcesces 2010Ces2010hapticimmerzKOR-fxWed, 06 Jan 2010 10:00:00 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.

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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.

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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.

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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[Immersion demos new TouchSense multitouch, haptic keyboard at D7]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/27/immersion-demos-new-multitouch-haptic-keyboard-at-d7/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/27/immersion-demos-new-multitouch-haptic-keyboard-at-d7/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/27/immersion-demos-new-multitouch-haptic-keyboard-at-d7/#comments Immersion (known for creative input experiences) demoed a fairly interesting new haptic experiment its working on dubbed TouchSense -- a virtual, iPhone-like keyboard that not only responds with sound and vibration, but some kind of feedback that recreates the feeling of actually moving your fingers across a keyboard. Details were scarce on the technology used, but during the demo at D7 the company showed off multitouch typing, and a new form of feedback which seems to create the sensation that there is a physical keyboard beneath your fingers. The functionality sounds eerily similar to the Haptikos technology that Nokia showed off way back in 2007. We're working on more details, but for now, feast your eyes on the pics in the gallery below.

Update: Press release after the break.

Gallery: Immersion's multitouch, haptic keyboard

Continue reading Immersion demos new TouchSense multitouch, haptic keyboard at D7

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Immersion demos new TouchSense multitouch, haptic keyboard at D7 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 May 2009 20:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d conferenced7DConferencehaptichaptic feebackhaptic keyboardHapticFeebackHapticKeyboardimmersionkeyboardmultitouchmultitouch keyboardMultitouchKeyboardvirtual keyboardVirtualKeyboardWed, 27 May 2009 20:32:00 EST