Getting Touchy-Feely with Mobile Devices

ARTICLE

Getting Touchy-Feely with Mobile Devices

By Jeff Orr, Senior Analyst - Consumer Electronics
Contact the author at jeff@maravedis-bwa.com

Shock and vibration are environmental forces that mechanical engineers have dealt with for decades. The venerable Timex advertising slogan for watches said “Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.” These forces wreak havoc on mobile devices that impact unforgiving floors, skid across asphalt streets and are continuously shaken in transit. Vendors are harnessing this device movement to create engaging features for mobile broadband handsets. Accelerometers, force feedback, and haptics technology, typically reserved for scientific and research applications, are finding new uses in consumer devices.

Accelerometers measure changes in force caused by acceleration and gravity. Measuring multiple axis change can sense inclination angle, shock and vibration. Electronically-controlled vehicle safety systems use accelerometers to determine impact force and deployment of airbags. Even the Nintendo Wii video game console incorporates accelerometers into player controllers. Hand movement simulates casting a fishing line or jabbing at a virtual sparring partner. Accelerometers are also being designed into consumer electronics and handhelds. Several mobile communications devices, including Apple’s iPhone and Nokia’s N95, use the technology to adjust video and web browser orientation when handsets are rotated from portrait to landscape display mode.

The HTC Touch Diamond includes a labyrinth game called Teeter that shows the precision of its accelerometer. Instead of pushing buttons or touching the screen, Teeter is controlled by tilting the device from side to side. The game’s goal is to move the simulated steel ball around the maze without it dropping into pitfalls along the way. As the ball bumps into walls, force feedback vibrates the handheld. Stronger “thumps” occur when the ball impacts screen edges at a faster rate. This game demonstrates how force-related technologies can enhance the sensory experience of mobile devices.

Taiwan’s dmedia uses a G-sensor to create a pedometer function in the company’s F200 dual-screen, WiMAX-enabled personal navigation device (PND). The step counter coupled with the embedded GPS receiver creates new application possibilities, such as walking tours and dynamic jogging routes. Outdoor enthusiasts will soon be able to track physical activity and create a simple diary entry of their performance.

Haptic technology enables response to touch on a traditionally static platform. Vibration or motion is delivered when a user touches the interface surface. When combined with tactile sensors to measure the force exerted by the user, a depth of touch is created. Haptics have been introduced for visually-impaired computing experiences that “bump” when a user passes the mouse cursor over icons or workspace objects. Similar to the introduction of low-cost accelerometers, video game systems have successfully implemented basic haptics. A Rumble Pak was introduced for Nintendo’s N64 game system controller that vibrated when a character was struck or while driving over rough ground. This capability is included as a standard feature on many game console controllers. Gaming joysticks and arcade chairs also use force feedback to provide resistance or vibration responses across a variety of simulated environments.

In February, Mitsumi introduced a haptic touch pad for mobile devices. The controls address one-handed device operation by residing on the back of a full-screen device, minimizing the need for stylus and touch screen input. Reading news headlines can be enhanced through feeling a bump at the start and end of an article. Transferring a file from one device to another could eventually become a physical gesture of “passing” or “handshaking” rather than a tapped or typed command. Creating a haptic response for personalized topic searches like sports, weather, or custom keyword matches in context remain to be exploited.

Environmental forces like shock and vibration used to be enemies of mobile devices. The use of rugged and lightweight materials has reduced the likelihood of damage. By incorporating accelerometers, force feedback and haptics technologies, touch-sensitive experiences are replicable on mobile computing devices. Content and applications that are haptic-aware remain in early stages of development due to the lack of widely adopted devices. Understanding temperature or texture may not be widely adaptable to mobile devices yet, but the use of touch and haptic responses are creating new possibilities for immersive mobile device experiences.

For more information you can contact the author: jeff@maravedis-bwa.com