Senseg demos alternative haptic technology

Senseg has built a prototype to demonstrate the capabilities of its haptic touch touchscreen technology. The tactile panel uses Coloumb’s force, an effect where electrostatic fields create the sensation of friction. Using existing touch panel technology, the company’s method gives users the sensation of touching a rock, example, or piece of silk, all from a flat display as the video embedded below demonstrates.

Users can see an image of gravel, for example, and feel a sensation through their hands like gravel. The same is true for packing material, or sandpaper. It also offers up a whole new way of interaction for gaming, in particular.

The Senseg haptic system differs from other haptic technologies in that there is no physical change to the screen, nor are there any moving parts. The company uses a method it calls the Senseg ‘Tixel,” which is a proprietary charge driver that creates a small attractive force to finger skin. It is the modulation of this force that creates the different sensations.

For third parties to deploy the technology, the need to license Senseg’s Tixel tech, its electronics module and integrate the Senseg software into their OS in order to manage effects in applications. [via The Verge]

By Electronista Staff