Now, you can touch and feel the images on your screen to get the feel of their textures. This is not a science fiction but a claim made by the researchers of IIT Madras. Researchers have developed a new touchscreen display technology through which the user can sense textures from images as the finger moves across the tactile surface.
The invention called ‘iTad’ is an interactive touch activated display. According to IIT, it is the next generation in touch display technology. Through the use of software, researchers can create different textures such as crisp edges, swatches and rich textures that range from smooth to gritty. A new level of interaction comes alive on smooth physical surfaces.
There are no moving parts in iTad. Instead, an in-built multi-touch sensor detects finger movement, and surface friction is adjusted via software. The IIT said that by controlling electric fields through a physical phenomenon known as ‘electrodeduction’, the software locally controls friction as the fingers travel in a smooth plane.
This research was led by Prof. M. Manivannan, CoE on Virtual Reality and Haptics, Department of Applied Mechanics, IIT Madras. Merkel Haptics, a start-up at the IIT Madras Research Park, is working with TouchLab researchers to take the technology forward.
Highlighting the impact of this technology on electronic components, Prof. M. Manivannan, Department of Applied Mechanics, IIT Madras, “This is the era of iTad. Technology can take the online shopping experience to the next level. We can touch and feel things before we buy from e-commerce platforms. About 30 per cent of returns on online shopping are due to mismatch of user experience, different from what they expected from viewing online images.
Elaborating on the current status of iTad and the timeline for its launch with potential applications in the real world, Dr. PV Padmapriya, CEO, Markel Haptics, said, “TouchLab allows prototypes to be built into a product. years.
Explaining how this ‘ITAD’ differs from contemporary techniques, Prof. M. Manivannan said, “Currently computer touchscreens can only sense the position of your fingers on the screen, but provide no feedback. When we add feedback, the interaction with the computer becomes experiential. iTade in the market today It’s unlike anything else because it combines multi-touch sensing with haptics on a single layer.”
The sensation of touch, or haptics, is unique among the senses because it is bilateral and has two aspects rather than just one. iTad touch-enabled surfaces can both receive tactile input (sensing finger position) and provide tactile feedback.
Until now, tactile feedback has been limited to vibrations, such as in mobile phones, which are referred to as ‘vibrotactyls’. A resonating voice coil is used to provide the smartphone’s familiar buzz alerts and confirmations. There are no moving pieces in the Surface Haptics as the iTad is a fully integrated solution with a single controller and solid-state actuator.
Texture and haptic effects, especially on large and curved displays, can harmonize on shape, size, and surface. iTad is a versatile solution with diverse applications. Every texture effect created through iTad can be felt with the swipe of a finger.
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