Japan-based Kyocera has patented a new technology dubbed "Haptivity" which will simulate the sensation of pressing physical keys.
The term Haptivity seems to be a derivation from "haptic feedback" and activity" and will allow force feedback that will make the touchscreen buttons on a display seem like real physical buttons.
Kyocera claims that the technology will be close to "real touch feeling and force feedback" for touchscreens.
Android already has haptic feedback wherein upon pressing the smartphone's screen a user's device will vibrate. This vibration, however, does not change in intensity regardless of whether one makes a short or long press, or presses an app.
With the introduction of Kyocera's Haptivity in the near term, this could soon change.
"The lack of sufficient real touch feeling and feedback is a well-known disadvantage of common panels where mistaken operations often occur as only a visual check can confirm whether or not the desired input has been registered. Kyocera applies its proprietary virtual reality technology to create a solution in simulating a mechanical keyboard on the display screen," claims the company.
For those wondering how Kyocera's patented Haptivity technology will work, the answer is through sensors. Force feedback is basically a simulation of specific nerves and Kyocera's Haptivity will look to replicate the same process.
Haptivity will simulate the Pacini nerve present in one's finger, creating the illusion of a finger pressing the physical keys instead of merely touching the touchscreen for the user.
The technology sounds reminiscent of the Force Touch trackpad technology deployed by Apple's current-gen MacBooks where a simulated click created the impression of pressing the device's trackpad.
The sensation of a real physical button being created for touchscreens through Haptivity will likely give way to the creation of a novel type of UI as well. The futuristic technology has plenty of potential and can be used in several applications in touch panel-based devices meant for the industrial, automotive and communications sector.
It is not known when Kyocera will deploy the Haptivity technology in its products. If it proves successful, then other OEMs may also want to adopt Haptivity and use it in their devices.
No word on when Kyocera will implement this patent into its products, but it does seem like a pretty solid idea.
Photo: Intel Free Press | Flickr
