Apple patent application shows how Force Touch could in future simulate different surfaces

[RedRound2]

Source: http://9to5mac.com/2015/04/23/force-touch-patent/

 

   

 

 

 

An Apple patent application published today shows that the Force Touch trackpad used in the 12-inch MacBook and latest 13-inch MacBook Pro could get more sophisticated in future versions. The patent describes how a mix of vibration and temperature could fool your finger into ‘feeling’ different surfaces, such as metal and wood.

 

For example, a glass surface may be controlled to have the temperature of a relatively cooler metal material and/or a relatively warmer wood material […]

 

In some cases, the temperature may be varied over time, such as in response to one or more touches detected using one or more touch sensors. For example, a metal material may increase in temperature while touched in response to heat from a user’s finger.

 

From the description in the patent, the vibration would appear to use a similar taptic engine to the existing Force Touch trackpad, but allowing horizontal as well as vertical movement. A Peltier device or similar would be used to create temperature differences. A Peltier device is a solid-state heat pump that can transfer heat from one side of the device to the other depending on the direction of the current, allowing both heating and cooling effects.

 

 

 

This is amazing! Apple's trackpad is already something that most people agree to be far ahead in the competition but this could take it into a whole new level, so far ahead when compared to touchscreen on computers IMO

[Victorious Secret]

The Force Touch hype is real. Apple of all companies to actually integrate haptics in a way that doesn't blow chunks. 

[ShadowCaptain]

This just sounds awesome. The already amazing trackpad is even going to get much much better, so far ahead when compared to touchscreen on computers IMO

 

Apple making their trackpad better is basically like Apple filming 360 degree 16k VR porn and releasing it for free 

 

its that good

 

The Force Touch hype is real. Apple of all companies to actually integrate haptics in a way that doesn't blow chunks. 

 

I cannot WAIT for like HP to put it on their £300 laptops, and act smug like "well we have it on our budget laptops" - but it just literally never works

 

the trackpad on my parents hp .. well it would be easier to cut off my own head with my finger than to move the mouse a few inches

[JAKEBAB]

Wow that is cool! 

[Victorious Secret]

Apple making their trackpad better is basically like Apple filming 360 degree 16k VR porn and releasing it for free 

 

its that good

 

People would still bitch if that happened, we all know it. 

[ShadowCaptain]

People would still bitch if that happened, we all know it. 

 

I expect no less

[virtualTune]

So you say it can make me believe I am touching a different surface? 

The mind wonders.... 

[Trik'Stari]

People would still bitch if that happened, we all know it. 

Bitch about what, 360 degree 16k VR porn? Even I could not bitch about that.

 

Unless maybe it was the stereotypical "way too tan, breasts way too large" kind of porn lol

[Aytex]

Bitch about what, 360 degree 16k VR porn? Even I could not bitch about that.

 

Unless maybe it was the stereotypical "way too tan, breasts way too large" kind of porn lol

well this escalated quickly

[ShadowCaptain]

I will never use gestures to their fullest extent, but this legitimately makes be want to buy an apple laptop.

 

Well just their old trackpad was enough to make me want to buy a macbook (and the aesthetics and overall feeling) 

 

I really do like their products.. if they made a 13" retina pro with a 960m/ 15" 970m I would be in the shop right now with my wallet out

[pit5000]

it's only a matter of time before this tech finds it's way into sex toys!

[TroubleKlef]

Didn't think Apple could already improve their fantastic track pads. One of the biggest reasons why I love their laptops over the competition. 

[SIGSEGV]

Now if only Apple would make a wired external trackpad with this stuff...

[RexinOridle]

Can't touch this

da nana na na na na

Can't touch this

Na nana na na na na

[atrash]

I've tried the Touch Force on the new MBP. Kinda neat really. And you can adjust the amount of tactile feedback you get from the touch pad too. It would be even neater if they can make a phone touchscreen with this tech. IINM the Apple Watch also uses some sort of the same thing.. I'm just wondering that achieving the feeling of touching something like metal,wood,glass, surface temperature is not the only thing that makes them different. You need the texture and surface hardness too.. But we'll see how they address this.

[MonkeyFace]

If I slap it, will it call the cops?

[dfsdfgfkjsefoiqzemnd]

I will never use gestures to their fullest extent, but this legitimately makes be want to buy an apple laptop.

Not me, but it makes me want to watch @ShadowCaptain actually do a comparison between moving the mouse and cutting his head off. 

 

Shadow, be sure to test the mouse first, it may otherwise become rather difficult to move it indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

[cesrai]

Hmmmm,, if they include red sand and it actually makes me feel like I'm touching it my next laptop maybe be a macbook.

[ShadowCaptain]

Not me, but it makes me want to watch @ShadowCaptain actually do a comparison between moving the mouse and cutting his head off. 

 

Shadow, be sure to test the mouse first, it may otherwise become rather difficult to move it indeed.

 

 

 

 

Ill have to get my mate do edit and upload it

[Victorious Secret]

I've tried the Touch Force on the new MBP. Kinda neat really. And you can adjust the amount of tactile feedback you get from the touch pad too. It would be even neater if they can make a phone touchscreen with this tech. IINM the Apple Watch also uses some sort of the same thing.. I'm just wondering that achieving the feeling of touching something like metal,wood,glass, surface temperature is not the only thing that makes them different. You need the texture and surface hardness too.. But we'll see how they address this.

 

iPhone will get it, maybe even the 6S. If it does, I'm upgrading to that, since Force Touch is truly awesome to use. 

[Mew]

iPhone will get it, maybe even the 6S. If it does, I'm upgrading to that, since Force Touch is truly awesome to use. 

 

Most likely it'll replace the home button. Having the force click feature on the screen will probably be less likely and less useful, although who knows.

[Victorious Secret]

Most likely it'll replace the home button. Having the force click feature on the screen will probably be less likely and less useful, although who knows.

 

I could see them axing the home button entirely if they could just have the force touch portion on the bottom a la the MacBook trackpads. 

[MarvinKMooney]

1. https://youtu.be/5b5BDoddOLA

2. Nicholas Negroponte

takes a big company to bring to light old technology.

[atrash]

I could see them axing the home button entirely if they could just have the force touch portion on the bottom a la the MacBook trackpads. 

 

That seems like a plausible idea but i don't think the are going to get rid of the touch id sensor too. And i'm interested in how much energy this force touch pad is using. Because of how it is designed (4 corners sensor) , it will probably occupy most of the phones's internal and maybe sacrificing the battery life a bit (smaller battery + tactile motor). Probably will work best on larger phone like the 6+.

[Mew]

That seems like a plausible idea but i don't think the are going to get rid of the touch id sensor too. And i'm interested in how much energy this force touch pad is using. Because of how it is designed (4 corners sensor) , it will probably occupy most of the phones's internal and maybe sacrificing the battery life a bit (smaller battery + tactile motor). Probably will work best on larger phone like the 6+.

 

I think it's more along the lines of replacing the home button with Force Touch while retaining the TouchID function. Maybe make it so that you can swipe back and forth on the thing to emulate back and forth gestures? It'll solve the problem with current apps that choose to not obey or implement the swipe from edge to go back/forth and make it much more consistent.