It’s fair to say that most people have used a haptic device in some way or another. Derived from the Greek word haptikos, meaning able to hold or grasp, this is the technology that makes your phone, as well as your Sony DualSense controller, vibrate and enhance the overall experience. While the tech is widespread already, there is a groundswell of opinion that it’s soon going to be taken to a whole new level and be featured in many new sectors.
These will be ones in which innovation has always been important. For example, car-makers Audi has built a brand on Vorsprung Durch Technik, roughly translated as advancement through technology. So, it’s no surprise that many of their top-of-the-range 2022 electric models feature haptics being delivered both through the steering wheel and the infotainment screen. This is intended as a safety measure as it gives tactile feedback, confirming that a button has been pressed successfully without the need for the driver to take their eyes on the road.
It’s equally likely that other industries committed to innovation will also be looking into using this kind of technique for their own ends. A prime example could be when players seek to play in an online casino for real money. These feature many state-of-the-art slots games and traditional casino favorites like roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. Always keen to make their games more immersive, giving haptic feedback would seem like a logical next step, especially as more and more people now use their mobile devices to play.
For example, a vibration could celebrate a win and the on-screen controls could give the tactile effect of being real buttons – something Apple has been leading the way in developing to date.
Enhancement Through Reaction
It’s also in several other forms of entertainment that haptic feedback is making major inroads. Razer has already developed several products including their Nari Ultimate Haptic Headphones. These aim to replicate the almost visceral feeling that can be felt when listening to live music by delivering vibrations to match the dominant sounds. Many gamers have turned to these for the more realistic edge they give to battleground sounds. The headphones have been described as feeling like having a pair of sub-woofers over your ears.
For another even more Sensurround experience, how about the Droplabs’ EP01 Haptic Sneakers? Kitted out with these, along with the Razer Naris, you’ll be able to experience favorite beats right from your head down to your toes as sensors in the soles of the shoes respond to certain volumes and frequencies. So, whether you’re in the gym, running, or enjoying a game of GTA, it’s going to make it an extra-moving experience.
Something closely linked to the rise and rise of haptics is the increasing use of VR. This has given rise to the cleverly named Tactsuit from the Korean start-up bHaptics. With a vest, armbands, and a headset, these are worn to enhance the experience of playing various VR games. So, as the action unfolds, you don’t just see it in hyper-realism, you feel it too with vibrations of varying intensity and force. An increasing number of games are being developed to use the suit, and it’s likely to inspire many imitators in the future.
While all the examples so far use fairly conventional haptics technology, there is one company that is pushing the boundaries of what may be possible through haptics technology that works with no actual physical contact at all.
Ultraleap is experimenting with using ultrasonic feedback instead of vibrations to generate sensations. A bank of small speakers sends waves through the air that collide at carefully calculated points. Users can feel these points as pressure on their skin, creating sensations literally out of thin air. The technology has yet to find any concrete applications, but it’s certainly an exciting enough idea to capture games developers’ attention.
It all adds up to exciting times for haptics – and we’re pretty that everyone from gamers to music fans is going to be moved by the experiences they provide.
Featured image: “Haptic and luminous screen 2” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by jeanbaptisteparis.
