Designers of Things Session Will Examine Importance of Haptics

Designers of electronic interfaces will need to be prepared to incorporate haptics in next generation products, an expert will tell attendees at UBM's upcoming Designers of Things conference in San Jose, Calif. Dec. 2-3.

"Sense of touch is under-utilized in a lot of modern digital interfaces," David Birnbaum, director user experience design for Immersion Corp. told Design News recently. "A lot of the time, interfaces are made to be understood quickly. But often, there isn't a lot of depth to the experience. One of the reasons for that is lack of touch."

Birnbaum, who has worked on haptic technologies for a decade, said he will discuss the need for touch-based sub-systems in products ranging from automotive touch screens and Internet of Things objects to smart watches and fitness devices. To do that, he will draw on Immersion's 22 years of experience in designing haptic interfaces, starting with its success in "rumble systems" for video games with Sony Corp. and Microsoft.

"In an ideal world, I envision creating digital devices with a low barrier to entry, so you'll be able to use them right out of the box," Birnbaum told us. "But over time and with multi-sensory feedback, you'll have the potential for enriching the user experience."

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He says haptic sub-systems enable digital devices to fit neatly in an analog world. Such devices typically incorporate electric motors, amplifiers, mechanical mounting systems, and software interfaces, to name just a few of the component parts. He added that he hopes attendees at the session will leave with ideas for ways that haptics can help add new features and unique "brand moments" to their products.

"It's hard to imagine a set of technologies where haptics don't apply," Birnbaum said. "They always apply if there's a human in the loop because humans have a sense of touch."

The 45-minute session, "Adding Meaning to Mobile Experience with Haptics," will take place at UBM's Designers of Things on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 10:45 p.m. at the San Jose Convention Center.

About Designers of Things

Designers of Things is a new conference produced by UBM that is dedicated to the revolutionary potential of Wearable Tech, 3D Printing, the Internet of Things (IoT), the business strategies and inventive people behind these technologies, and how they can successfully accelerate innovation to take their inspirations to the next level. Through in-depth educational programs, ground-breaking technology demonstrations, and unmatched networking opportunities, Designers of Things offers one of the most comprehensive and impactful meeting places for the technology design and development communities in the world. The Designers of Things event will take place at the BIOMEDevice event in San Jose, Calif., Dec. 2-3. For more information, follow us on Twitter at @DoThingsCon

Senior technical editor Chuck Murray has been writing about technology for 31 years. He joined Design News in 1987, and has covered electronics, automation, fluid power, and autos.

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