Microsoft Looks Into Haptic Screen Future

Right now, just about every modern day smartphone as well as tablet comes with a full touchscreen – although there are some designs that veer away from the norm from time to time by including a keyboard or a numeric keypad. Having said that, Microsoft thinks that the next level of evolution for touchscreen displays would be haptic feedback, which works in a far more advanced manner compared to today’s simple vibration of your device that we know of.

Microsoft researcher Hong Tan has realized that making use of haptics in order to add tactile sensations to screens could have its fair share of readily noticeable benefits. Take for example, a keyboard-like “click” feeling that will be applied to a Surface keyboard cover. In fact, there was one particular study that revealed how subjects were able to experience a faster rate of typing with a higher level of accuracy on such a display.

Of course, the potential benefits do not stop there, either, as another possibility for such a screen would be to use it to include enhanced interfaces so that you are able to feel resistance whenever you move a folder on the screen, or how about letting your finger feel different “textures” whenever you touch various icons on the screen? I am quite sure that further advancement on such technology will also see it make the leap to the world of gaming.

The question is, how soon will it become mainstream, and how much of an impact will it have on battery life in the long run?

Edwin Kee
Categories: Gadgets
Tags: haptic, Microsoft