Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2013 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Google patents smart watch with flip-up display that could reveal everyday objects' secrets]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/02/google-patents-smartwatch-with-flip-up-display/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/02/google-patents-smartwatch-with-flip-up-display/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/02/google-patents-smartwatch-with-flip-up-display/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Google patents smartwatch

It looks like Google has considered transferring ideas from Project Glass over to your wrist by patenting a smart watch with a transparent, flip-up touchscreen. If such a device ever came off the USPTO papers, it would present notifications and other info transmitted from your smartphone at a glance, like many, many others now on the market. However, Mountain View's added a new twist when you'd flip up its bezel -- at that point, it's claimed that the watch could channel a plethora of other Google apps, like Gmail, Goggles, and Maps. Of course, you'd be able to privately view messages inside the bezel, but since the display would also be transparent, you could see through it to landmarks or object around you. According to the patent, you could then be given directions based on GPS coordinates and the buildings "seen" by the watch, while a Goggles-like implementation would be able to identify smaller items in the display. That would let the search giant throw ads or other data about the product your way, giving you the info you need to snap it up -- and likely not hurting Google's bottom line.

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Source: USPTO

]]> Androidflip up watchFlipUpWatchgoogleGoogle Glassgoogle smart watchgoogle watchGoogleGlassGoogleSmartWatchGoogleWatchPatentpatentsSmart WatchSmartWatchtactiletactile displayTactileDisplay Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:16:00 -0400 21|20339004 <![CDATA[Matias Quiet Pro claims to be the 'world's quietest mechanical keyboard']]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/20/matias-quiet-pro-mechanical-keyboard/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/20/matias-quiet-pro-mechanical-keyboard/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/20/matias-quiet-pro-mechanical-keyboard/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Matias Quiet Pro claims to be the 'world's quietest mechanical keyboard'

Canada's Matias Corporation has made something of a name for itself with its tactile keyboards, but those have primarily appealed to those who also enjoy (or at least accept) the sound of a mechanical keyboard in addition to its feel. The company's hoping to bring a few more into the tactile fold with its new Quiet Pro, though, which it claims is the "world's quietest mechanical keyboard." That, Matias says, comes without any sacrifices to tactile feedback, and is said to be the result of more than two years of work. As usual, the keyboard comes in both PC and Mac specific models (all-black and silver & black, respectively), each of which boasts three USB 2.0 ports and laser-etched keys with beveled keytops as opposed to the increasingly common flat variety.

Not surprisingly, you can also expect to pay a bit of a premium over your average keyboard -- each model will set you back $150, with US models available today (UK, German and Nordic versions are promised for January). Interestingly, the company says it is also planning to sell the new switches it's developed to other companies for use in their own keyboards, and even to hobbyists interested in going the DIY route. Additional details on that are promised soon.

Gallery: Matias Quiet Pro keyboard

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Source: Matias

]]> keyboardmatiasmatias quiet proMatiasQuietPromechanicalmechanical keyboardMechanicalKeyboardquiet proQuietProtactile Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:02:00 -0400 21|20329350 <![CDATA[Robot with tactile sensor is better at identifying materials than you are (but only wants to help)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/19/robot-with-tactile-sensor-identifying-materials/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/19/robot-with-tactile-sensor-identifying-materials/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/19/robot-with-tactile-sensor-identifying-materials/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Robot with tactile sensor is better at identifying materials than you are (but only wants to help)

Researchers at USC's Viterbi School of Engineering have developed a robot capable of identifying materials, thanks to a tactile sensor. The so-called BioTac sensor mimics the human finger, with flexible robot skin layered over a liquid filling -- and the skin even has fingerprints to increase the robot's sensitivity to vibration. Researchers trained the robot to recognize 117 common materials, and by making "exploratory movements" to feel out textures it was able to correctly identify materials 95 percent of the time -- a higher accuracy rate than humans achieve. Still, though the robot is an ace at understanding textures, it doesn't possess the ability to decide which materials are preferable to humans. For this reason, the USC team says it will focus more on applications such as human prostheses and consumer product testing. Relax: your fingers are still worth something -- for now.

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]]> biotac sensorBiotacSensorresearchResearcherresearchersrobotRobotssensorsensorstactiletactile sensorTactileSensoruscusc viterbi school of engineeringUscViterbiSchoolOfEngineering Tue, 19 Jun 2012 14:44:00 -0400 21|20261654 <![CDATA[Researchers suggest haptics and audio for discreet password input]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/09/researchers-suggest-haptics-and-audio-for-discreet-password-inpu/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/09/researchers-suggest-haptics-and-audio-for-discreet-password-inpu/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/09/researchers-suggest-haptics-and-audio-for-discreet-password-inpu/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Researchers suggest haptics and audio for discreet password inputYou can use as complex as a password as you like, but that won't do you much good if someone's able to watch or record you entering it. Researchers Andrea Bianchi, Ian Oakley and Dong-Soo Kwon have some ideas for overcoming that little problem though, and recently put together a video demonstrating a few of the possibilities they've come up with. All of those rely on haptic input systems -- either on their own or in conjunction with some audio output (through headphones for privacy). That includes things like a dedicated haptic keypad or haptic wheel, and different methods that could take advantage of a haptic display on a smartphone. As you can see in the video after the break, some of those options could be a bit more time consuming than an easy-to-remember password, but there's certainly plenty of potential applications where security would trump convenience.

[Thanks, An]

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]]> haptichaptic inputHapticInputhapticsinputpasswordpasswordssecuritytactilevideo Mon, 09 Apr 2012 02:06:00 -0400 21|20210438 <![CDATA[Rumor mill: Will the new iPad have a tactile display?]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/ipad-rumor-tactile-display/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/ipad-rumor-tactile-display/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/ipad-rumor-tactile-display/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Remember Senseg's tactile touchscreen displays? Well, last December the company showed off a screen that used an electrostatic field to simulate friction and textures on the glass. Such technology was a couple of years away from being commercially viable, but there's a tiny glimmer of a chance it might be the new killer iPad feature. Pocket-lint spoke to a company rep who cryptically said that the company wasn't making any statements until "after Apple's announcement." Why would they issue any statement tied to today's Apple news? Could it connect with a remark made back in June 2011 to Trusted Reviews, that Senseg had partnered with a "certain tablet maker based in Cupertino?" Maybe that line in Apple's invitation to today's event is another clue: "We have something you really have to see. And Touch." After all, Siri was announced at the "Let's talk iPhone" event, so it wouldn't be the first time the company places vague hints under our noses. Still, we have but a few hours left to wait until we really know what's coming, so join us for the live announcement later today.

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]]> AppleCupertinoElectrostaticFriction DisplayFrictionDisplayiPadiPad 3iPad HDIpad3IpadHdRumorRumor MillRumorMillSensegTactileTactile DisplayTactile ScreenTactile TouchScreenTactileDisplayTactileScreenTactileTouchscreenTim CookTimCookTouch Wed, 07 Mar 2012 06:38:00 -0500 21|20187697 <![CDATA[Experimental controller has 'thumbstick within thumbstick' for blistering sensations (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/experimental-controller-has-thumbstick-within-thumbstick/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/experimental-controller-has-thumbstick-within-thumbstick/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/experimental-controller-has-thumbstick-within-thumbstick/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Experimental controller has 'thumbpad within a thumbpad'Just when you thought slingshots were the future, here comes a whole new way to enjoy baddie deletion in Uncharted 7. Each thumbstick on the prototype controller above has a secondary force feedback-enabled nub at its center, which moves independently and creates different sensations by stretching the skin on the pad of your opposable digit. In the video after the break, the designers at the University of Utah show how they've created effects for crawling, collisions, explosions and even fishing. They're apparently hoping to push their technology into next-gen games consoles, but they'll have to join the queue.

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]]> controllerforce feedbackForceFeedbackgames consolegames controllerGamesConsoleGamesControllergaminghapticnext-gen games consoleNext-genGamesConsoleprototypesensationtactilethumbthumbpadthumbsticktouchuniversity of utahUniversityOfUtahvideo Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:22:00 -0500 21|20186518 <![CDATA[Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi haptics]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/hands-on-with-immersion-hd-integrator-hi-fi-haptics/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/hands-on-with-immersion-hd-integrator-hi-fi-haptics/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/hands-on-with-immersion-hd-integrator-hi-fi-haptics/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi hapticsIt was just over a year ago when we met with the folks from Immersion, and they showed us a prototype handset packing its HD haptics technology. Since that time, the piezoelectric actuator that makes the tactile magic possible has gone into mass production, and the first commercial device packing such hi-fi haptics, the Pantech Element, hit store shelves. Immersion's got greater aspirations for its tactile tech, however, and its new HD Integrator platform aims to put high fidelity haptics in every handset. We got to sample the HD haptics goods once again and chat with Immersion about the new platform and its technology, so head on past the break to see what the company has in store.

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]]> force feedbackForceFeedbackhands-onhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhapticshd integratorHdIntegratorimmersionpiezopiezoelectrictactiletouchvideo Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:30:00 -0500 21|20177740 <![CDATA[Das Keyboard Model S mechanical keyboard heads to the Mac this April]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/das-keyboard-model-s-mechanical-keyboard-heads-to-the-mac-this-a/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/das-keyboard-model-s-mechanical-keyboard-heads-to-the-mac-this-a/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/das-keyboard-model-s-mechanical-keyboard-heads-to-the-mac-this-a/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments We just got a look at one new mechanical keyboard designed for Macs at CES last week (Matias' Tactile One), and now we have word of another option for those who take their typing seriously. Das Keyboard confirmed today that a Mac version of its Model S Professional keyboard will be available on April 15th, and that you can pre-order it now for $113 (a 15% discount off its list price). It brings with it the same gold-plated mechanical key switches found on the existing Model S, but with the additional of all the keys you'd expect on a Mac-specific keyboard -- plus some other bonuses like a two-port USB hub and an instant sleep function. Unfortunately, Mac users looking to go truly minimalist with an Ultimate edition will either have to wait and hope that one's coming or break out some black paint.

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]]> das keyboardDasKeyboardkeyboardmacmechanicalmechanical keyboardMechanicalKeyboardmodel smodel s professionalModelSModelSProfessionaltactiletactile keyboardTactileKeyboard Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:19:00 -0500 21|20149673 <![CDATA[German researchers create smudge repellent coating from candle soot]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/04/german-researchers-create-smudge-repellent-coating-from-candle-s/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/04/german-researchers-create-smudge-repellent-coating-from-candle-s/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/04/german-researchers-create-smudge-repellent-coating-from-candle-s/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments While they're working on the lack of feedback, and need for exposed skin problems for touch screens, that other gripe -- dirty smudges -- could soon be wiped-out permanently. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz obviously had enough of sleeve-cleaning their devices and created a coating that could usher in a smudge-free world. The discovery comes after the team applied candle soot to glass and then coated it in silica to keep it in place. The glass is then heated to a bratwurst-baking 600 ºC for calcination, which makes the soot transparent -- somewhat handy for screens. To test, different oils and solvents were applied, but the glass' superamphiphobic properties soon fended them off. A resilient coating sounds a little more straight-forward than what Apple recently applied to patent, but until either of these see the light of day, you'd better keep that Brasso close by.

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]]> brassocalcinationcandlecandle sootCandleSootcleaningcoatinggermanglassgreasehapticMainzmaterialMax Planckmax planck instituteMaxPlanckMaxPlanckInstitutepolymerresearcherssciencescreensilicasmudgesmudge-freesootsuperamphiphobictactiletouchscreen Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:16:00 -0500 21|20120158 <![CDATA[Senseg's tactile display gets demoed on a tablet, products anticipated within 24 months]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/sensegs-tactile-display-gets-demoed-on-a-tablet-products-antic/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/sensegs-tactile-display-gets-demoed-on-a-tablet-products-antic/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/sensegs-tactile-display-gets-demoed-on-a-tablet-products-antic/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
We've seen Senseg's tactile display technology demoed on a few different devices in the past, but CNET has now gotten a quick look of the company's latest tech on a tablet, along with some additional word on its future. As with previous prototypes, the screen doesn't rely on any moving parts as some other tactile displays do, but instead employs an electrostatic field-based system that allows different parts of the screen to produce varying degrees of friction. As Senseg notes, that opens up a number of interesting possibilities for gaming, as well as other applications where you may not always want to look at the screen. Of course, that tablet is still very much a prototype, but Senseg's Dave Rice says that he's "optimistic" we'll see actual products using it "within the next year," although he notes that could extend to 24 months. See the video after the break or at the source link below.

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]]> electrostaticelectrostatic fieldElectrostaticFieldfrictiontablettactiletactile displaytactile screenTactileDisplayTactileScreenvideo Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:56:00 -0500 21|20118812 <![CDATA[FingerFlux system uses magnets to add tactile feedback to touchscreens]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/fingerflux-system-uses-magnets-to-add-tactile-feedback-to-touchs/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/fingerflux-system-uses-magnets-to-add-tactile-feedback-to-touchs/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/fingerflux-system-uses-magnets-to-add-tactile-feedback-to-touchs/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments We've seen a number of efforts that promise to make touchscreens more tactile, but none quite like this so-called FingerFlux system developed by a team of researchers from Germany's Aachen University. Its hook is a layer of magnets that lie beneath the touchscreen and react to a simple thimble that the user must wear. While that particular accoutrement could be considered a slight drawback, it does open up a number of interesting possibilities -- including the ability to draw your finger towards an item on the screen, and "lock" it in a certain area. What's particularly key, however, is that you're also able to feel a bit of feedback before you even touch the screen -- as opposed to other entirely screen-based options -- which could could let you operate something like media player controls without actually looking at your phone. Of course, it's all still a long ways from being shrunk down to phone-size, but the researchers do have a working prototype in a table-top device. Check it out in the video after the break.

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]]> Aachen UniversityAachenUniversityhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackmagnetmagneticmagnetstactiletactile feedbacktactile interfaceTactileFeedbackTactileInterfacetouch screenTouchScreenvideo Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:56:00 -0400 21|20091194 <![CDATA[HAPMAP navigational system keeps your eyes on the prize, your hands on the route (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/hapmap-navigational-system-keeps-your-eyes-on-the-prize-your-ha/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/hapmap-navigational-system-keeps-your-eyes-on-the-prize-your-ha/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/hapmap-navigational-system-keeps-your-eyes-on-the-prize-your-ha/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Alternative navigational systems aren't exactly new, but the concept shown here just might have wings. HAPMAP was one of a handful of projects selected for demonstration at SIGGRAPH's E-tech event, aiming to keep a human's eye away from the map (and in turn, on whatever's in front of them) by developing a system that guides via haptics. With a handheld device capable of both navigating and vibrating, the interface indicates complex navigation cues that follow the curvature of a road or path -- it's far more detailed than the typical "go straight," and there's also opportunity here to provide handicapped individuals with a method for getting to previously inaccessible locales. By mimicking the operation and interface of sliding handrails (as well as using motion capture cameras), it's particularly useful for the visually impaired, who need these subtle cues to successfully navigate a winding path. Hop on past the break for a couple of demonstration vids.

Gallery: HAPMAP navigational system demo at SIGGRAPH 2011

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]]> demodemonstrationgpshands-onhapmaphapticnavnavigationnavigationalroutingsiggraphsiggraph 2011Siggraph2011tactilevideo Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:47:00 -0400 21|20014864 <![CDATA[PocoPoco musical interface box makes solenoids fun, gives Tenori-On pause (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/pocopoco-musical-interface-box-makes-solenoids-fun-gives-tenori/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/pocopoco-musical-interface-box-makes-solenoids-fun-gives-tenori/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/pocopoco-musical-interface-box-makes-solenoids-fun-gives-tenori/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Think SIGGRAPH's all about far-out design concepts? Think again. A crew from the Tokyo Metropolitan University IDEEA Lab was on hand here at the show's experimental wing showcasing a new "musical interface," one that's highly tactile and darn near impossible to walk away from. Upon first glance, it reminded us most of Yamaha's Tenori-On, but the "universal input / output box" is actually far deeper and somewhat more interactive in use. A grand total of 16 solenoids are loaded in, and every one of 'em are loaded up with sensors.

Users can tap any button to create a downbeat (behind the scenes, a sequencer flips to "on"), which will rise in unison with the music until you tap it once more to settle it (and in turn, eliminate said beat). You can grab hold of a peg in order to sustain a given note until you let it loose. There's a few pitch / tone buttons that serve an extra purpose -- one that we're sure you can guess by their names. Those are capable of spinning left and right, with pitch shifting and speeds increasing / decreasing with your movements. The learning curve here is practically nonexistent, and while folks at the booth had no hard information regarding an on-sale date, they confirmed to us that hawking it is most certainly on the roadmap... somewhere. Head on past the break for your daily (video) dose of cacophony.

Gallery: PocoPoco musical interface box at SIGGRAPH 2011

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]]> audioconceptdesignhands-onideea labIdeeaLabinterfacejapanmusicmusical interfaceMusicalInterfacepocopocoprototyperesearchsiggraphsolenoidstudenttactiletokyotokyo metropolitain universityTokyoMetropolitainUniversityuniversityvideo Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:50:00 -0400 21|20014701 <![CDATA[Vibrating glove prototype lets you hold on to that feeling]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/vibrating-glove-prototype-lets-you-hold-on-to-that-feeling/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/vibrating-glove-prototype-lets-you-hold-on-to-that-feeling/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/vibrating-glove-prototype-lets-you-hold-on-to-that-feeling/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
The secret to increasing tactile sensations? Good vibes, man. Georgia Tech scientists have unveiled a prototype glove that helps improve the feeling of its wearer by adding vibration. The gloves add physical "white noise," improving the sense of touch in the fingertips of the user. The whole thing is still in the early stages of testing, but the glove's inventors believe that it might some day find real world applications amongst people in occupations that require a good deal of manual dexterity and those with medical conditions that have dulled the feeling in their hands.

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]]> feedbackfeelinggeorgia techGeorgiaTechglovesensationtactilevibration Fri, 05 Aug 2011 04:02:00 -0400 21|20009833 <![CDATA[Kinect-driven tactile bodysuit makes you tingle in eight different places]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/kinect-driven-tactile-bodysuit-makes-you-tingle-in-eight-differe/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/kinect-driven-tactile-bodysuit-makes-you-tingle-in-eight-differe/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/kinect-driven-tactile-bodysuit-makes-you-tingle-in-eight-differe/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments

We know the US Army has already experimented with vibrating clothing, and soon it could be our turn. The trendy figure-hugger above is rigged with haptic actuators across the arms and torso, which respond when the wearer's body 'touches' virtual objects created via Microsoft's Kinect platform. The outfit's designers at the University of Aachen spent just a few hundred dollars on components, aside from the cost of the Kinect, so this might well have commercial potential. Click the source link if you're really keen to see a concept video -- although it doesn't consist of much beyond a German dude doing the Hey Macarena in his socks.

[Thanks, Jarod]

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]]> actuatorbodysuitconceptfeedbackhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinecttactileuniversity of aachenUniversityOfAachenvibrationvibration feedbackVibrationFeedbackvirtualvirtual realityVirtualReality Mon, 25 Jul 2011 07:45:00 -0400 21|19999307 <![CDATA[Tactile Brush uses sensory illusions to let you feel games, movies]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/28/tactile-brush-uses-sensory-illusions-to-let-you-feel-games-movi/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/28/tactile-brush-uses-sensory-illusions-to-let-you-feel-games-movi/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/28/tactile-brush-uses-sensory-illusions-to-let-you-feel-games-movi/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments TactileBrush Poor arachnophobes -- it's bad enough that 3D movies can make it look like swarms of eight-legged freaks are pouring out of the screen, now Disney wants you to feel the creepy crawlies, too. In a presumed effort to one-up those "4D" chairs used at Shrek's castle down in Orlando, the company has been working on what it calls Tactile Brush -- a chair with an array of 12 vibrating coils that are able to simulate anything from the sensation of speeding around a race track to the delicate drip of rain on your back. Two techniques are used: apparent motion, which triggers two motors in quick succession to create the illusion of something moving over your skin, and phantom sensation, in which two stationary vibrations are felt as a single tingle between the two points. Disney researchers demoed Tactile Brush at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Vancouver using a racing game, but hope to bring it to amusement park rides and movie theaters -- which, in the right hands, should lead to more screaming and at least a few pairs of wet pants.

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]]> Disneydisney researchDisneyResearchillusionresearchsensationsensory illusionsSensoryIllusionsstudytactiletactile brushtactile feedbackTactileBrushTactileFeedbackvibration Sat, 28 May 2011 13:01:00 -0400 21|19952133 <![CDATA[KDDI haptic smartphone prototype promises up to seven layers of touch, only shows off two]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/kddi-haptic-smartphone-prototype-promises-up-to-seven-layers-of/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/kddi-haptic-smartphone-prototype-promises-up-to-seven-layers-of/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/kddi-haptic-smartphone-prototype-promises-up-to-seven-layers-of/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Ah, another possibly vaporous, yet intriguing addition to a long line of haptic patents and prototypes. Today's offering: a KDDI smartphone mockup (utilizing Kyocera display technology) promising to render sensation through multiple layers of applied touchscreen pressure. Imagine depressing a camera shutter on a touchscreen, and you've got the idea. KDDI only had a screen sporting two haptic layers on hand when they demoed the prototype at Wireless Japan this week, but Kyocera reportedly told Akihabara News that the technology is capable of up to seven layers of tantalizing touch. Neat. Maybe we'll get a few authentic haptic touchscreens on the market and do away with all the vibrational fakery we've been seeing.

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]]> displaydisplayshaptichaptic feedbackhaptic technologyhaptic touchscreenHapticFeedbackhapticsHapticTechnologyHapticTouchscreenKDDIkyoceraprototypescreenscreenssmartphonesmartphonestactiletactile feedbackTactileFeedbacktouch screentouchscreentouchscreenswireless japanWirelessJapan Thu, 26 May 2011 07:44:00 -0400 21|19950140 <![CDATA[Touch pad prototype works without movement, makes fingertips feel like they're sliding (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/touch-pad-prototype-works-without-movement-makes-fingertips-fee/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/touch-pad-prototype-works-without-movement-makes-fingertips-fee/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/touch-pad-prototype-works-without-movement-makes-fingertips-fee/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments This comes from the same touchy-feely Kajimoto lab in Japan that brought us the tactile kiss transmission device and we totally see where they're going with it: maximum sensation, minimum effort. You only have to exert the gentlest of pressures on this prototype touch pad and it zaps your fingertip with little electrical signals, mimicking the feeling of sliding your finger over a surface. We imagine it's a bit like the little red pointing stick in the middle of a Lenovo ThinkPad keyboard, for example, but with the addition of "position-dependent data input" to create the illusion that your finger is actually touching different areas of the screen. For now though, if you don't mind stretching a finger to your old-stylee mouse or trackpad, then check out the video after the break.

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]]> feelfeelingfingerfingertipillusionjapanjapanesekajimotokajimoto laboratoryKajimotoLaboratorymechanicalmimicmimickingoddphysicalpointing devicePointingDeviceposition-dependentresearchsensationsensitivesensorytactiletactile feedbackTactileFeedbacktouch padtouchpaduniversityvideo Wed, 11 May 2011 09:44:00 -0400 21|19936186 <![CDATA[Microsoft's Rock and Rails touchscreen lets you massage your photos with both hands]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/microsofts-rock-and-rails-touchscreen-lets-you-massage-your-pho/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/microsofts-rock-and-rails-touchscreen-lets-you-massage-your-pho/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/microsofts-rock-and-rails-touchscreen-lets-you-massage-your-pho/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments If you ever get tired of poking away at your smartphone's screen like a doorbell, you're not alone. The forward-looking folks over at Microsoft Research have been working away at a new touchscreen system designed pick up on more natural, whole-hand movements, effectively allowing users to break free from the finger-based paradigm that governs most tactile devices. Developed in coordination with engineers at Microsoft Surface, the company's Rock and Rails interface can detect three basic hand gestures: a balled fist, which holds items on the screen, an extended hand that can align objects (see the cell marked "d," on the right) and a curved paw, around which users can pivot images (see cell b). This taxonomy opens up new ways for users to crop, re-size or generally play around with their UI elements, though it remains unclear whether the display will trickle down to the consumer level anytime soon. For now, it appears to operate exclusively on the Surface, but more details should surface when the system's developers release a paper on their project, later this year. Hit the source links to see a video of the thing in action.

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]]> cropshandimagesinterfaceMicrosoftMicrosoft Researchmicrosoft rock and railsMicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoftResearchMicrosoftRockAndRailsMicrosoftSurfaceresearchrock railsrock and railsRockAndRailsRockRailsscreensurfacetactiletouchscreenUI Wed, 11 May 2011 00:58:00 -0400 21|19936284 <![CDATA[Touchscreen prototype brings fake insects to life with tactile sensations (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/touchscreen-prototype-brings-fake-insects-to-life-with-tactile-s/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/touchscreen-prototype-brings-fake-insects-to-life-with-tactile-s/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/touchscreen-prototype-brings-fake-insects-to-life-with-tactile-s/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The laboratory that taught us all to love again via kissing machine is back, and this time, thankfully, it's got its mind on other things. Kajimoto Labs at Tokyo's University of Electro-Communications showed off a prototype for a touchscreen capable of transferring tactile information like the location of onscreen icons to the user's palm, while a layer of gel positioned behind screen helps it conform to the shape of the sensation-receiving hand. What use could such a technology serve? Well, there's surely a lot of potential here -- take, for example, visually impaired users, who don't otherwise get a lot of information from touchscreens. A less noble example was offered up by a representative from the lab in the form of game where the user can feel ants crawling on his or her hand. Terrifying, and hopefully not compatible with the lab's previous invention. Video of the touchscreen after the break.

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]]> Japankajimotokajimoto laboratoryKajimotoLaboratoryprototypetactiletokyotouchtouchscreenTransmissionUniversity of Electro-CommunicationsUniversityOfElectro-communicationsvideo Tue, 10 May 2011 15:13:00 -0400 21|19936355 <![CDATA[Editorial: A less tactile future, and how to avoid it]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/06/editorial-a-less-tactile-future-and-how-to-avoid-it/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/06/editorial-a-less-tactile-future-and-how-to-avoid-it/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/06/editorial-a-less-tactile-future-and-how-to-avoid-it/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments For the past few weeks, I've been doing most of my typing on a Matias Tactile Pro 3 -- a mechanical keyboard that's much like the original Apple Extended or IBM Model M keyboards, in function, if not appearance. If you're not old enough to remember those, that means it relies on mechanical key switches instead of the rubber membrane used by most keyboards these days. You feel, and hear every key press -- and, after you've used one for a while, you'll be much more aware of the mushy alternative hiding under other keyboards, and likely find them quite unsatisfying.

Mechanical keyboards have seen a slight resurgence as of late among gamers, who value their accuracy, but they mostly remain a niche product for folks like me -- writers who might also happen to collect manual typewriters, or coders who honed their skills to their familiar clickety-clack sound in the 80s and 90s. I bring this up because it's not just keyboards that have gotten less "tactile" in recent years, but computing and consumer electronics in general -- and that includes cellphones.

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]]> editorialgrabbablegraspablemechanicalmechanical keyboardMechanicalKeyboardtactiletactilitytouch Fri, 06 May 2011 14:02:00 -0400 21|19932847 <![CDATA[Tactile kiss transmission device finally makes it okay to smooch your computer (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/tactile-kiss-transmission-device-finally-makes-it-okay-to-smooch/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/tactile-kiss-transmission-device-finally-makes-it-okay-to-smooch/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/tactile-kiss-transmission-device-finally-makes-it-okay-to-smooch/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments They say the vast majority of communication is done physically rather than verbally, but in the realm of technological advances we seem to have rather neglected the transmission of physical contact. Thankfully, there's always Japan to provide us with off-the-wall innovations, this latest one being a kiss transmission device that will record, relay, and -- if you wish it -- replay your finest tongue gymnastics. It's the height of simplicity at the moment, with a plastic implement taking input from one person's mouth and conveying it to a second box, intended to be gobbled up by the recipient of this techno-affection, who may respond in kind or just sit back and enjoy the thrill of it. The researchers sagely point out that there's more to be done, as the sense of taste, manner of breathing, and moistness of the tongue are all important aspects of a kiss that have yet to be recreated. Once they do get their kiss transmitter to v2.0, however, they envision a pretty neat market for it in reselling kiss replays performed by celebrities. For now, you can see a celeb-free video demo after the break.

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]]> affectioncommunicationcommunicationsjapanjapanesekajimotokajimoto laboratoryKajimotoLaboratorykisskiss transmission devicekissingKissTransmissionDevicemechanicalmouthoddphysicalquirkyresearchtactiletransmissionuniversityvideoweird Mon, 02 May 2011 03:47:00 -0400 21|19929024 <![CDATA[Enzo's Pinball gets you all touchy-feely with your phone]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/08/enzos-pinball-gets-you-all-touchy-feely-with-your-phone/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/08/enzos-pinball-gets-you-all-touchy-feely-with-your-phone/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/08/enzos-pinball-gets-you-all-touchy-feely-with-your-phone/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments We got a hands-on sample of Haptify's haptic-powered apps a couple months back and came away intrigued, but yearning for more. Well, the company is finally ready to sate our penchant for playtime physicality with its first game, Enzo's Pinball. The game debuts with three tables ("more coming soon"), and is designed to let you feel every bump, rattle, and ricochet as if it were the real thing. It isn't identical to its tangible counterpart, but it is an upgrade over the rumble-free digital competition. Haptify's haptic black magic works with handsets running Android 2.1 and up, so there's an awful lot of potential pinball wizards out there. You can grab the game in the Android Market and it'll cost $1.49 to give in to your tactile desires.

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]]> androidandroid 2.1android 2.2android 2.3android marketAndroid2.1Android2.2Android2.3AndroidMarketenzos pinballEnzosPinballfeedbackforce feedbackForceFeedbackfroyogingerbreadhaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhapticshaptifyImmersiontactiletactile feedbackTactileFeedback Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:57:00 -0400 21|19906688 <![CDATA[Researchers enable tactile feedback for e-readers using real paper, just like the olden days (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/24/researchers-enable-tactile-feedback-for-ereaders-using-real-pape/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/24/researchers-enable-tactile-feedback-for-ereaders-using-real-pape/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/24/researchers-enable-tactile-feedback-for-ereaders-using-real-pape/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Brainiacs from Osaka University have created what they've called the Paranga -- a device that fulfills the lack of tactile feedback of page turns when using an e-reader. It's got a built in sensor that detects when the book is being bent and will rotate a roll of paper strips against your thumb. The force exerted against the device will control the speed of the paper roll. Although it's not accurate enough to turn one page at a time, the researches believe that if foil is used instead of paper, the voltage will be discharged as soon as a page is turned, ensuring single-page accuracy. If you want to see a video of the Paranga imitate page-turning, press play on the embed below the break.

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]]> bendbendingbentbookebookelectronicelectronic bookElectronicBookereaderfeedbackfoilosakaosaka universityOsakaUniversitypagepage turnpage turningpage-turningPageTurnPageTurningpaperparangaresearcherssensationsensortactiletactile feebackTactileFeebacktactilefeedbackturnuniversityvideo Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:12:00 -0400 21|19890704 <![CDATA[Immersion releases SDK to put haptics in Android, helps smartphones move what their makers gave them]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/08/immersion-releases-sdk-to-put-haptics-in-android-helps-smartpho/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/08/immersion-releases-sdk-to-put-haptics-in-android-helps-smartpho/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/08/immersion-releases-sdk-to-put-haptics-in-android-helps-smartpho/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments About a month ago, we told you about Immersion's MOTIV dev platform to design Android apps with tactile feedback, and today its release has finally arrived. The SDK comes with predesigned haptic effects, sample code, and the ability to tweak the duration and intensity of the feedback -- allowing developers to perfectly tailor the amount of shake in your groove thang. Interested parties can hit up the source link for the SDK download and start indulging in the haptic dark arts immediately.

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]]> androidfeedbackforce feedbackForceFeedbackgooglehaptichaptic feedbackHapticFeedbackhapticsimmersionsdksoftware development kitSoftwareDevelopmentKittactiletouch Tue, 08 Mar 2011 09:30:00 -0500 21|19871669