The immediate benefit is that this makes, or with a little refinement (not sure how small the tactile areas can be), touch screens properly accessible to the blind without changing anything on the software interface. That is a very good thing, as it's accessibility, but layered on top of what exists. I wonder if it can do Braille? 'Cause that would just be cool.
I'm not really in to having it for standard UI, I prefer the idea of some kind of electromagnetic field providing the haptic feedback, something a bit less.. crude? Obvious? something like that.
It'll be nice not only for the blind (assuming Braille or something comparable is feasible with this technology) but for those of us who'd like to be able to touch-type, which is tough with existing touch-screens.
I wonder if the buttons can be relocated in real-time? Imagine a radio dial or fader that you could feel rotating or sliding under your fingers with resistance as it reached the end of allowed travel.
[+] [-] domwood|14 years ago|reply
I'm not really in to having it for standard UI, I prefer the idea of some kind of electromagnetic field providing the haptic feedback, something a bit less.. crude? Obvious? something like that.
[+] [-] jawns|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mmcconnell1618|14 years ago|reply
Pretty cool technology.