Gizmodo: tactile

Nokia Haptikos Tactile Touchscreen Patent Is a Bit Like Apple's

Kit Eaton — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:39:12 EDT

Among the rush of Apple patents relating to touchscreens over the last year came one on tactile feedback touchscreens, and Nokia seems to have been thinking along the same lines. Almost exactly the same lines, since Nokia's Haptikos tech is a system of fluid-cells driven by piezoelectric actuators that push up through a flexible touchscreen. And that sounds a lot like Apple's sub-surface, adjustable tactile "keys." But apparently the Nokia tech is aimed at "variable and controllable user perceived surface roughness or friction coefficient" rather than buttons. Fascinating stuff, nevertheless. [Unwiredview]

Scientists Make Bandaid-Sized Flexible Haptic Display

Kit Eaton — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EDT

A team of Korean and US scientists have developed a new type of display that delivers information via your biggest organ: your skin (yes, I know what you were thinking.) Their new tactile "display" is flexible enough to be rolled up around your finger like a bandaid, and may be a useful computerized Braille aid. The device uses new precisely-arranged electroactive polymers, which expand when a voltage is applied creating gentle pressure to nearby skin. This, along with the fact it doesn't need complex electronics, means that it's the kind of tech that could easily end up in haptic-feedback data gloves or a "tele-feeling transferring system," which sounds *ahem* fascinating. [Physorg]

My Touch Keys Brings Tactile Feedback to iPhone

Haroon Malik — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:45:02 EDT

My Touch Keys is a simple idea; a thin sheet of plastic with holes where each key appears is mounted onto the iPhone's screen. When the keyboard is used, you can "feel" each key as you press, thanks to the slight depression the My Touch Keys sheet offers. Though this isn't exactly a new concept, it is the first time it has been commercially made available, and we think it may be a worthwhile investment for some. Watching a movie with the plastic film attached will probably annoy you to no end, but if you can't quite get to grips with the whole touchscreen thing, there are probably worse ways to squander $8. Additionally, the guys at My Touch Keys are running a BOGOF promotion, meaning you can grab yours for $4, just as long as you have someone to go halvsies with. [Product Page via OhGizmo]

Better Shots of the Pantech Double LCD Touchpad Phone

Jason Chen — Fri, 11 May 2007 14:20:26 EDT

Remember the Pantech IM-R200 double LCD phone with touchscreen keys? You know, the one that gives you tactile feedback on the touchscreen so you can actually see what's going on? AVING hassome nicer pictures of the screen, showing off various styles of keypads that you can change to.

We're hoping there's more than just keypad styles on the touchscreen—maybe some kinda QWERTY or something—but we do see that it looks different when a call is in effect. Head over to check out more pics.

Bonus shot after the jump.

– Jason Chen

Sky announces 'IM-R200' adopting OLED touch keypad [AVING]

Tactile Messaging Vest Lets Soldiers Communicate Silently

Jason Chen — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:40:34 EST

Just as kids wrote on each other's backs and tried to guess what the letter or word was—something we loved—these tactile vests transmits signals to the wearer tactically. Each vest has 16 vibrating motors that can create 15 patterns with a "very high recognition" rate. In fact, when five volunteers were tested with these signals, only one of them made a single mistake.

These vests can be adapted to be used on the battlefield, yes, but we'd like to see them make a version for the Xbox 360. Did I feel a left arrow on my back? That means I need to flank left. Down? Duck. All of them go off at once? Oh, right, I'm being chainsawed. – Jason Chen

Vibrating vest could send alerts to soldiers [New Scientist via Boing Boing via Primidi]