Tag: Tactile

Virtual reality headsets use your eyes and ears to make things seem real, but the future of VR is all about incorporating the other senses. Researchers at Stanford University have our hands and fingers covered. They have come up with a way for you to virtually feel virtual objects, with the help of a weird robot.

Ever since I found out about Tactus a couple of years ago I’ve been looking forward to trying out its tactile touchscreen technology. It looks like that time is close at hand. Tactus’ first consumer product is a case for the iPad Mini that adds its retractable buttons to the tablet.

Fujitsu has rolled out a prototype tablet that has a cool bit of tech inside. The tablet has haptic sensory technology inside that allows you to feel images on the screen. Users are able to feel smooth or rough textures depending on what is displayed on the screen.

The geniuses at Disney Research are obsessed with touch-based input. One of their latest breakthroughs is an algorithm that can “simulate rich 3D geometric features (such as bumps, ridges, edges, protrusions, texture etc.) on touch screen surfaces.” In other words, it provides the feeling of touching a 3D object even though the user is only touching a flat surface.

The technical magicians at Disney Research are at it once more. This time, they’re working on a technology which allows users to feel sensations without actually having to touch a surface.

I don’t really care much for tactile feedback in videogames, but if you’re into that sort of immersion, Tactical Haptics is working on a device that’s right up your alley. At the 2013 Game Developers Conference, the company showed off a prototype motion controller with a unique haptic feedback system.

Last year, we showed you an early prototype of technology from Tactus Technology which can turn a flat screen into a tactile surface. Now, at CES 2013, Tactus is showing off a full 7-inch tablet that uses the technology to dynamically add a keyboard to the screen only when needed.

Despite the fact that there are people (and robots) out there who can solve a Rubik’s Cube in about 5 seconds, my tiny brain still needs at least 20 minutes to solve one. But imagine if you were blind (or even color blind).

We have seen a handful of attempts to add analog control to touchscreen devices, but these solutions are either bulky or take up a significant amount of the screen. Precise control is nothing if you can’t see what you’re controlling.

Videogames are very good at engaging our eyes and ears, but when it comes to touch we still have a long way to go. Force feedback is the gaming industry’s attempt to engage our sense of touch, but it’s limited at best.

My hard drive is filled with so much junk that sometimes I wonder how on earth it still manages to turn itself on without conking out. (But I’m glad it still functions well though, despite that.

Ten One Design has now released the inevitable follow-up to the Fling stick-on joystick for the iPad, the Fling Mini for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It’s almost exactly the same as its big brother, which means it has both the pros and cons of the original Fling.

I like a lot of realism in my games – and movies to a point. I would love to have a chair that allows me to feel the forces exerted on the body during a real car race for instance.

Researchers from Tokyo’s University of Electro-Communications are working on a ridiculous new interface for the iPhone, which allows users to simulate the sensation of being tickled. Why actually tickle the palm of your hand when you can have an App for that, right?

I really like the iPad – it’s a great tablet. I am not a huge fan of the on-screen keyboard though. I also don’t really like to have to carry a bulky external keyboard with me either.

This might just be the most beautiful keyboard I’ve ever laid eyes on. Each key cap on this modified Apple keyboard is cut from sandblasted lumber, providing a ridged, tactile feel under fingertips.