Haptics Will Change the Way We Interact
March 8th, 2008 | by Brad King |When I was writing my piece on Carnegie Mellon’s new haptic interface, I kept asking people if my basic premise was true: haptic technology will fundamentally restructure the way we interact with the data stream (or, in a less obtuse fashion, won’t all these cool devices change how we play with technoloigy?).
The answer from haptic researchers: resoundingly no.
The reason: the mouse and keyboard are the lowest common denominators when it comes to simplistic use. Everyone can easily grasp the functions. And the price point for these devices is tiny.
Popular Mechanics begs to differ.
Haptics doesn’t just close the gaps in our current computer interfaces—it can open up new possibilities. Blending haptics with recent advances in the field of robotics allows doctors to train for intricate procedures virtually, with increasingly accurate sensory feedback—and the technology can bring a new dimension to remotely controlled machines, helping negotiate obstacles in distant settings.
