What Is Haptics?

Haptics is the technology of creating an experience of touch using forces, vibrations, or pulses. It is commonly used in mobile devices, games, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and cars, making user experiences more realistic and engaging.

We encounter this technology every day, every time we use our mobile phones. The next time you feel little vibrations while using your phone, observe what happens. Haptics stimulate a person’s somatosensory system (the system that notifies the brain when we feel sensations like pain, cold, or heat), letting the brain know the device is responding to your actions.

Read More about Haptics

People’s interest in video games grew in the 1970s, and that was when this technology emerged. Learn more about what haptics is.

What Are the Types of Haptic Technologies?

These systems can be classified based on their feedback or how they stimulate the sense of touch.

1. Vibration haptics

The most common are vibration haptics, such as those used in smartphones, game controllers, and wearables.

2. Force feedback

The technology can also come in the form of force feedback. This type uses forces from motors, hydraulics, and electromagnets to provide resistance to user inputs. For example, a person feels resistance from a steering wheel while playing racing games. Force feedback is also used in robotics and flight simulators.

3. Tactile

Haptics can also be tactile-based. This type uses different textures and patterns to stimulate the sense of touch. It can also involve using airflow or electrical stimulations to create tactile sensations. While this type is still relatively new, it is used in VR and assistive technologies. There are already haptic gloves available for sale, primarily targeting gamers.

The following video shows how this technology can be used.

4. Thermal

Another type of haptic technology manipulates temperature to create sensations. Thermal haptics is used in VR and medical applications where heat or cold is simulated for temperature-based therapy.

5. Kinesthetic

Kinesthetic haptics is applied in robotics and VR. This type involves mounting the technology on the user’s hands, arms, or whole body to simulate a sense of weight, resistance, motion, or position. In VR, kinesthetic haptics helps users feel the weight of a virtual object or the resistance when pushing a virtual wall. It also provides feedback to human operators of remote-controlled robots, allowing them to feel the robot’s forces and movements.

What Is Haptics For?

The technology is primarily used to enhance user experiences by engaging the sense of touch. Its specific purposes are to communicate information, create immersive experiences, improve accessibility, and enhance control. We’ll discuss them in greater detail below.

Communicate Information

Haptics can convey information to users without relying solely on visual or auditory cues. For instance, a vibration can indicate a notification, text message, or even a specific action within an app.

Create Immersive Experiences

In fields like gaming and VR, the technology can significantly enhance the sense of presence by simulating physical sensations. That makes experiences more engaging and realistic.

Improve Accessibility

This technology can be vital for people with visual or auditory impairments. It can facilitate new, smoother ways to interact with and understand information.

Enhance Control

Haptics can improve the accuracy and precision of user interactions by providing tactile feedback. For example, haptic feedback in a gaming controller can enhance the player’s control over the game.

Does Haptics Drain the Battery of Mobile Devices?

The small motors used to create feedback consume power. While it contributes to battery consumption, the amount of power used is relatively small.

A study that looked into the impact of haptics on the battery life of mobile devices revealed that the technology’s power consumption is not too concerning. The battery drain from haptics is usually negligible compared with other power-consuming features like screen display, processing, and cellular connectivity. Advancements in technology have led to more power-efficient haptic motors, minimizing their impact on battery life.

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Now that you know the haptics definition, it’s clear that it bridges the gap between the digital and physical worlds, making interactions more intuitive, informative, and enjoyable.

Key Takeaways

Haptics refers to the technology that creates a sense of touch using vibrations, forces, or pulses.
It stimulates the somatosensory system, letting your brain know the device is responding.
The rise of video games in the 1970s helped spark interest in this technology.
There are different types of haptics—vibration, force feedback, tactile, thermal, and kinesthetic.
Vibration is the most common. It is used in phones, game controllers, and wearables.
Haptics is used to communicate information, create immersion, improve accessibility, and enhance control.
Haptics consumes battery power but less than the screen, processor, or cellular connectivity.