New Haptic Tech Promises Feeling and Texture for Touch Screens and Gestures From: IEEE Spectrum - 10/09/2013 By: Evan Ackerman Disney Research presented a new algorithm that's able to translate 3D information in an image or video directly into tactile sensations on a special haptic display. The display itself stays perfectly smooth (unlike, say, a Tactus keyboard), and instead modulates the friction at your fingertips to trick you into feeling like there's texture under them. The display creates the illusion of friction using another Disney Research technology from several years ago called TeslaTouch, which uses oscillating electric charges to dynamically adjust the friction between your finger and the touch panel. [This rechnology has potential applications for individuals with low vision or blindness] Read the entire article and view three videos (2:19, 2:48 & 3:41) at: http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/consumer-electronics/gadgets/new-haptic-tech-brings-feeling-and-texture-to-touchscreens-and-beyond Links: Tactile Rendering of 3D Features on Touch Surfaces http://www.disneyresearch.com/project/3d-touch-surfaces/ TeslaTouch http://www.disneyresearch.com/project/teslatouch/