Haptics
The UK Digital Catapult supported by Innovate UK describe haptic technology or haptics also referred to as kinaesthetic communication or 3D touch, as one of three immersive technologies that transforms the digital experience by 'bringing together the virtual with users’ sight, sound (virtual reality and augmented reality) and event touch (haptics).'
In their report (Haptics:What the future feels like) they describe it as 'the use of electronically or mechanically generated movement that a user experiences through the sense of touch as part of an interface.' In the construction industry, haptics has the potential to simulate the sensations of holding tools, manipulating objects, feeling the resistance or texture of materials.
The UK Digital Catapul notes that as 'touchscreens become ever more ubiquitous, haptic technology has also become an increasingly important part of how we interact with our digital lives. For example, micro-vibrations replace the feeling of a button press, and pulses on our wrist from our diaital watch can alert to calls and messages.'
The organisation supports tecnlogical development in three areas
- Human haptics, which is relative to touch perceived by humans
- Computational haptics, which is the software for touching and feeling virtual objects
- Haptic machines, which refers to the design and use of machinery that can increase or replace human touch
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