Reports are being published that Apple’s new iPad 3 might include a new “Feel Screen” technology. Senseg, the company that develops panels based on haptic feedback technology has hinted that the new iPad might include their “feel screens”.
“We won’t be making any statements until after Apple’s announcement,” as stated by a Senseg representative. To add to the speculation, Senseg senior VP Ville Mäkinen mentioned that “we are currently working with a certain tablet maker based in Cupertino.”
Senseg describes its haptic display technology on its website:
Senseg patented solution creates a sophisticated sensation of touch using Coloumb’s force, the principle of attraction between electrical charges. By passing an ultra-low electrical current into the insulated electrode, Senseg’s Tixel, the proprietary charge driver can create a small attractive force to finger skin. By modulating this attractive force a variety of sensations can be generated, from textured surfaces and edges to vibrations and more.
What this means is that the user can “feel” the screen. In a demo in Barcelona at the 2012 Mobile World Congress, Pocket-lint was able to get a hands-on demo of the technology, and had this to say. ” We got hands-on – literally, as it’s the only way to experience the haptic interface – with a couple of demos on a developer unit: an image of the kitchen tile that felt smooth until you hit the bump of the grout and a representation of a solid bit of slate-like material which had a missing part so as when we slid our finger over it, it almost felt as if the tablet gave way and our finger dropped a bit. Clever stuff indeed.”
Senseg describes their technology as being like “magic”, saying, “With Senseg, touch screens come alive with textures, contours and edges that users can feel. Unlike effects created by mechanical vibration and piezo solutions, Senseg is silent.”
Until 10 AM PST, this is all speculation, although the addition of Senseg’s tech would be a fantastic addition to the iPad 3.