Nokia’s Haptikos project is an attempt to incorporate haptic feedback into touchscreen controls - essentially, making a touchscreen feel ‘real’ as if you were manipulating physical objects (such as keys or buttons) rather than just dragging your fingertip over smooth plastic.
Primitive haptic feedback can be achieved simply by making the entire handset vibrate, but as this patent application (unearthed by Into Mobile) illustrates, Nokia is looking to create something a bit more special.
Haptikos uses voltage sensitive elements within a film over the touchscreen. WHen voltage is adjusted, these element can be raised or lowered to change the texture of the touchscreen surface.
By raising and lowering these ‘bumps’ Haptikos can simulate the feeling of pressing and releasing a physical button -something that can be further enhanced by visual and audio feedback.
If you have ever used a touchscreen keyboard you will know that it is sometimes hard to tell if you have hit a ‘key’ or not - feedback like this will make something like the Nokia Tube’s keyboard much easier to use.
There is a full PDF of the application available here.
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