Nokia shows off some seriously cool haptic-feedback touchscreen tech – Haptikos takes haptic feedback to a whole new level
By Will Park on Tuesday, November 6th, 2007 at 1:34 PM PST In Announcements, Nokia, Research, Technologies
Touchscreens. We’ve been touting them as the future of mobile tech, and Nokia (NYSE: NOK) is backing it full-on. The Finns have basically perfected the pressure-sensitive side of touchscreen technology in their “Haptikos” (which means “to touch”) touchscreen. Nokia’s haptic feedback touchscreen doesn’t just give you pseudo-feedback vibrations and clicks (Samsung F700, we’re looking at you), the Haptikos system actually provides a physical “clunk” and audible “click” directly under the depressed key. Combined with 0.1mm of screen-travel, the Haptikos system delivers a real-keyboard touchscreen experience.
Roope Takala, Senior Program Manager at Nokia’s research labs explains the tech:
“We inserted two small piezo sensor pads under the screen and engineered in a 0.1mm movement in the screen itself. What’s taken the time has been fine tuning the movement and response to mimic exactly the sensation of pressing a real key.”
We’re looking for the upcoming S60 Touch handset to rock this new Haptikos system, and we can’t wait to get our hands (and fingers) on it – literally.
Haptikos a definite step in the right direction. But, don’t be fooled into thinking that Haptikos, or any haptic feedback system that doesn’t provide static tactile feedback, will help with no-look touch-typing. While Haptikos is about as advanced as haptic touchscreens get (so far) and gives you definite feedback of a key-press, touch-typing requires an actual “feel” for the keys. Regardless, Nokia’s Haptikos is going to be the cat’s meow when it hits the market.
[Via: Red Ferret]
Fantastic if it works:) Let hope it isnt just a squashy screen! I guess if they get the timing of the ‘click’ sound right it will ‘feel’ like a click – I assume this is how it works.
Actually, that’s a pretty astute observation. The timing of the haptic “clunk” with the audible “click” is the most important part of making the touchscreen feel like a real keyboard.
Nokia is also working on adapting this timing for other applications like Navigation.
Follow-up
I can’t wait to get my hands on this technology. I’m hoping that the Haptikos system overcomes the “squishy” pressure-sensitive touchscreen issue with a firm, phsyical “clunk”