Haptics feedback, or what’s more commonly referred to as haptics, is a form of touchscreen technology in which the device responds to touch with some method of notifying the operator that his or her touch was registered. Normally, the operator must rely strictly on visual stimuli to determine whether or not a touch was registered. But with haptics feedback, it creates greater transparency by allowing the operator to feel when his or her touch is registered. So, what are the benefits of using haptics feedback in touchscreen devices?
One notable benefit of haptics-based touchscreen devices is the ability to determine when a touch is registered without looking at the actual display. For regular smartphone and tablet users, this isn’t an issue. If you typically use a touchscreen device while looking directly at the display — which most people do — you really don’t need haptics. However, workers who use touchscreen devices as part of their normal work routine would certainly benefit from the use of haptics feedback technology. If a worker has his or her eyes concentrated on a machine, haptics will allow them to perform commands on a touchscreen device without losing focus.
Haptics feedback may also improve the accuracy of keyboard typing. Without some method of feedback to inform the user that he or she pressed a key, there’s a greater room for error. On the other hand, implementing haptics will reduce the likelihood of accidental key presses, missed keys, and other problems. It’s not a fool-proof way to eliminate typing errors, but it will certainly minimize errors.
An article published by Forbes calls haptics feedback the “killer feature” in Apple’s next line of iPhones. Given the countless number of features that Apple typically introduces in its handsets, that’s a pretty bold statement to say the least. Apple has said that haptics will compliment its 3D Touch technology to provide a more positive and fluid experience for the end user.
You might be wondering how exactly haptics feedback works. Well, there are several different ways in which haptics feedback operators, one of which is through vibration. When the user touches a key, the device will respond by triggering a light vibration. This vibration, although subtle, indicates the user has pressed a key. Other forms of haptics technology may include the use of visual stimuli and/or sound.
