Piezo-based haptic trackpads coming to Windows PCs in 2022

[HEXUS]

Tech promises slimmer, more accurate and reliable experience, with rich haptic touch.

Read more.

[KultiVator]

Strange that they quote two quite different numbers for the thickness of the Piezo-haptic trackpad - pretty significant difference between 1.8mm and <2.8mm given the proportions.

[Ttaskmaster]

Strange that people are still trying to push force-sensing and haptic technology, when fighter pilots already trialled it to death and found it abysmal at best...

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Might be useful for thin keyboards to give artificial feedback when typing?? Although you do get thin mechanical switches now too.

[kalniel]

Strange that people are still trying to push force-sensing and haptic technology, when fighter pilots already trialled it to death and found it abysmal at best...

I think most of these people aren't using it to control a plane at mach 1.6..

I know what you mean though - same with touchscreen controls on cars. But for trackpads and phones it makes sense where you don't actually want to have to engineer in physically moving components yet want to give the user the impression of having pushed a button. iPhones have got this pretty well nailed, other makes, a bit less so.

[Tabbykatze]

Strange that people are still trying to push force-sensing and haptic technology, when fighter pilots already trialled it to death and found it abysmal at best...

The difference between a fighter pilot and a standard user is the fact that having a touch response is not the difference between life and death.

It seems generally agreed it was a stupid decision to use touch screens on the F-35s, but these are laptops...for users...in an office

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The difference between a fighter pilot and a standard user is the fact that having a touch response is not the difference between life and death.

It seems generally agreed it was a stupid decision to use touch screens on the F-35s, but these are laptops...for users...in an office

What if the Window PC is controlling our nuclear arsenal??

[kalniel]

What if the Window PC is controlling our nuclear arsenal??

I don't think Windows 3.1 has good haptic support.

[Tabbykatze]

What if the Window PC is controlling our nuclear arsenal??

Then we deserve our nuclear annihilation

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I don't think Windows 3.1 has good haptic support.

That new,eh?

Then we deserve our nuclear annihilation

[Ttaskmaster]

The difference between a fighter pilot and a standard user is the fact that having a touch response is not the difference between life and death.

Given how some people get about their phones, I'm pretty sure they'd argue the point quite vehemently!!

But yeah, this data on HIDs comes from the products being extensively tested by people highly tuned to minute input variations, while under the most extreme circumstances, such as fighter pilots. This then influences how they make switches, buttons and other controls for everything, from Aston Martins to Caterpillar diggers and even PC gaming joysticks. I was lucky enough to be given a tour round such a place, and it's amazing just how much testing and research goes into how controls are perceived by that user... in an office... slouched in their swivel chair, munching on a toasted avocado bagel with one hand while they sort an MS spreadsheet with the other!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Don't worry its all AI now - fighter pilots are sooooooo 2020,until a BSOD happens.

[LSG501]

OH joy...haptic touchpads... EVERY and I mean EVERY device which has had any sort of haptic feedback made me turn it off, it just wasn't nice to use.

Can't say I'm a huge fan of touchscreens being the only way to interact with stuff in cars either to be fair... there are some places where good old switches/dials are 'better' for the job.

[Wrinkly]

Strange that people are still trying to push force-sensing and haptic technology, when fighter pilots already trialled it to death and found it abysmal at best...

The difference between a fighter pilot and a standard user is the fact that having a touch response is not the difference between life and death.

It seems generally agreed it was a stupid decision to use touch screens on the F-35s, but these are laptops...for users...in an office

Or a nuclear power plant, where knowing you pressed a button doesn't matter /s

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Or a nuclear power plant, where knowing you pressed a button doesn't matter /s

Yeah,like at Chernobyl!

[Tabbykatze]

Given how some people get about their phones, I'm pretty sure they'd argue the point quite vehemently!!

But yeah, this data on HIDs comes from the products being extensively tested by people highly tuned to minute input variations, while under the most extreme circumstances, such as fighter pilots. This then influences how they make switches, buttons and other controls for everything, from Aston Martins to Caterpillar diggers and even PC gaming joysticks. I was lucky enough to be given a tour round such a place, and it's amazing just how much testing and research goes into how controls are perceived by that user... in an office... slouched in their swivel chair, munching on a toasted avocado bagel with one hand while they sort an MS spreadsheet with the other!

I would heavily argue that the people extensively testing are by and far way ahead on the needs of their system than the extreme vast majority of users. If what you say is true then why is the vast consumer base ignoring that data and instead utilising something "inefficient". Because their needs are not the needs of those "highly tuned to minute input variations" people.

That and a quantifiably high amount of the time it's not the input method that is the most inefficient aspect and is instead the user interface that they're having to work with is the most inefficient aspect.

I'm not arguing whether this research does not affect how HID systems are developed, I'm arguing that the vast majority of general consumers would actually be negatively affected if a general HID was moved to a hyper efficient system.

Edit: also people are getting hung up on the haptic feedback, the actual tech (piezo sensors) being used in the touchpad itself is by and far better and more accurate than capacitive touch interfaces which will be great.