Fujitsu Laboratories has developed the following tactile technologies.
1. Mimicking an unprecedented realistic sensation of slipperiness
Inducing an ultrasonic vibration on the surface of the touchscreen display creates a high-pressure layer of air between the screen’s surface and one’s fingertip, which has the effect of reducing friction, creating a floating effect. Taking advantage of this phenomenon makes it possible to create a slippery sensation on a touchscreen display that had been previously difficult to achieve. While vibrations in the ultrasonic band require a significant amount of energy, Fujitsu has developed a technology that induces vibrations efficiently at mobile device sizes, and successfully produced a prototype that creates these tactile sensations.
2. A technology that creates a sensory illusion of bumpiness and roughness
By rapidly cycling between high and low friction in response to touch information on the panel and the screen’s display information, this technology can generate a tactile illusion that the screen is bumpy or rough. The combination of tactile information, visual information from the display, and audio information from the speakers enriches the user experience.
About the Prototype
This technology has been miniaturized and equipped on a prototype tablet which will be exhibited at Mobile World Congress 2014. Visitors can experience for themselves the tablet’s tactile sensations, as well its visual and audio features, in the following four demonstrations.
– Japanese harp: Offers users the sensation of plucking the strings of a koto, a traditional Japanese harp.
– DJ: Mimics the sensation of moving a CD placed on a mixing deck, and using volume and other controls that feel as if they are sticking out.
– Vault: Gives auditory and tactile feedback as users rotate a combination lock to open a vault.
– Alligator: Touching the image of an alligator on screen will convey the sensation of the skin texture appropriate to the place being touched.
Future Plans
By enabling more realistic and intuitive operability, the tactile sensory technology in this prototype has wide-ranging potential applications, including for electronic product catalogs, on tablets and other devices, as well as potential applications for a variety of services. Fujitsu and Fujitsu Laboratories are continuing with R&D to extend the range of tactile expressiveness, with the goal of commercialization in fiscal 2015.
Source: Fujitsu Laboratories