For quite some time, people have been asking for a haptic keyboard on the iPhone -- a way to produce tactile feedback when a user taps or hovers over a key. If you've used the Wii, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. It's that sensory feedback that confirms you've selected a wiibutton. This morning TUAW reader zebrum sent in a tip that a couple of University of Glasgow students (Malcolm Hall and Eve Hoggan) had built a prototype.
I gave it a try and while I applaud the students for their effort, it's not exactly ready for prime time. It's a proof of concept, not a general-use mod. You test it out in a simple text editor. You can't for example, enable this for Safari. Moreover, it's pretty darned unstable. Sometimes it crashes. Sometimes the vibration keeps going until you quit the program, re-launch and get it to stop by tapping a key.
What's cool about this app? It shows a neat new way of thinking about iPhone interaction -- even if that way is going to pay havoc on batteries if actually implemented -- and to use a helpful technology that's available on other devices. This kind of feedback uniquely highlights where keys start and end. Run your finger along the keyboard and receive instant tactile feedback (obviously in addition to the letter popups) when your selection changes.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-26-2008 @ 11:10AM
mingistech said...
Heh.. a keyboard.... i see.
But the real question is... WHERE THE FOOK IS OUR SDK???
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2-26-2008 @ 11:16AM
5cents said...
Imagine this is iPhone only since the touch doesn't have the "vibroactile" unit?
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2-26-2008 @ 11:24AM
Bezman said...
Caterpillar App has this feature for the dialer and i love it.. i hope this is developed more.
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2-26-2008 @ 11:59AM
Matt G said...
The Verizon Voyage has this feature built in already. That was the only thing I really liked about the phone, however.
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2-26-2008 @ 12:06PM
FoundInTheFlood said...
Hm... but you don't really feel WHICH button you pushed, right? Just that you pushed a button? That's pretty useless, even if they make it better
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2-26-2008 @ 12:31PM
Ross said...
No, judging from the site, only the section of the screen that you press will vibrate. And the vibration can follow your finger as you move it across the screen.
2-26-2008 @ 12:30PM
ramond said...
The letter buttons on a real keyboard don't feel different anyway. The point with this app is that you feel if the phone successfully detected your press and also allows you to feel if you slipped off the button you were aiming for. I think both of these features are a massive improvement.
2-26-2008 @ 12:32PM
oZone said...
If you ever used a phone with haptics, you would think differently. It really is useful. Sometimes, I don't realize I didn't lock my iPhone in my pocket and I place calls by mistake. If the phone vibrated with every touch, it would eliminate that.
Or just if I remember to lock my phone. :o
2-26-2008 @ 12:45PM
FoundInTheFlood said...
ok, so i might have missunderstood that.
I thought that it uses the normal vibration motor, which would let the whole phone vibrate. Just vibrating parts of the screen sounds like a very cool idea, but i ask myself how this should be possible.
My english skills don't seem to be good enough to understand it the way they explain it on their website.
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2-26-2008 @ 1:11PM
Dale said...
Why doesn't someone work on updating the thing so you can compose text messages in the landscape orientation?
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2-26-2008 @ 5:51PM
oZone said...
Apple really needs to get on that. The keyboard is fairly easy to use in portrait but it's INFINITELY more accessible if apps like Notes, SMS and Mail would function in landscape mode.
lol amirite? (._. )
2-26-2008 @ 5:51PM
oZone said...
Apple really needs to get on that. The keyboard is fairly easy to use in portrait but it's INFINITELY more accessible if apps like Notes, SMS and Mail would function in landscape mode.
lol amirite? (._. )
2-27-2008 @ 12:00PM
Dale said...
Totally, it's the main barrier to entry for me... other than not wanting to switch to AT&T.
2-26-2008 @ 1:16PM
Bob S. said...
Considering that almost all of the third-party iPhone apps are really just proofs of concept, it seems to criticize this one for being nothing more as well.
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2-26-2008 @ 11:48PM
Kevin said...
But this makes the iPhone like the Voyager... grrr...
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2-27-2008 @ 8:47AM
LKM said...
After trying this, I have to say I really don't see the point. This doesn't seem useful in any kind of way. It simply vibrates when I push on a button. The only thing that'll do is injure your hands if you type too much due to the constant vibrations.
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2-28-2008 @ 11:02PM
The Tuesday Night Tech Show said...
I loaded it. Got bored with it within 5 minutes. I'm sure Apple will buy them out and make it a part of the phone. Who cares. I think I just farted--yes, confirmed. I just farted.
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3-04-2008 @ 2:20AM
boomersmech said...
Cool application I am definately gonna watch this one..
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