Comments on: Rumor: Apple to add tactile feedback to iPhone

Apple insider says the company is in talks with Immersion to license its haptic technology for use in the iPhone, according to a report.

[Orengeman]

But, why?

I'll first note that I'm a happy (early adopter) iPhone user.

The phone provides VISUAL feedback of key presses. And if you want (by default) provides aural feedback. So, why where is there a need for tactile feedback? This is a phone, not a console controller. Also, since there are no hard buttons, having tactile feedback in the form of vibration is not going to suddenly make it possible to use the iPhone (for dialing, texting, etc) without looking down at the screen.

So, again, what's the point?

[The_Decider]

That is the point

So you don't have to stare at the screen like a drooling idiot.

Tactile response does in fact result in not having to stare at the screen. It is true for keyboards and certainly true for the better phones out there like the higher end Nokias.

[Lee in San Diego]

Options

I can see, or feel as the case may be, a use for it. It would probably
be an option that you can turn off or on as needed.

[krosavcheg]

...

physical feedback helps the user use the device. Couldn't you figure that out on your own?

[markdoiron]

Because human factors engineering studies ...

Because human factors engineering studies determined decades ago that tactile feedback improves the user experience and decreases operator errors. Leaving out tactile feel on a product like a phone (or .mp3 player, for that matter) is a mistake.

--mark d.

[skellener]

...what's the point?

Because touch screens - even Apple's all suck.

[ralfthedog]

Because it's cool.

In the long run there is only one reason to do anything. Because it's fun.

[thedreaming]

This is why (my humble opinion)

People like to to buy "New" things, so to make the iphone "New" again, they have to add something to it that the previous generation doesn't have. They've done this with their ipod line as well as their operating system.

This isn't a new concept, Microsoft is the king of milking a cash cow.

[nalgene1080]

For 3rd Gen iPhone?

In separate stories, it seems that there have been a number of reports that the 3G iPhone is already in testing. Would that mean that the haptics couldn't get in before release in June...

Sadness ensues.

[timber2005]

More confusing

Lets reffer to the iPhones like this...
The current one is the first gen (G1) EDGE version
The next one is the second gen (G2) G3 version
and the one with Tactile support will be third gen (G3) G3 version.

Yay gens!

[muskratboy]

well, not exactly NO sensory feedback...

"because there is no sensory indication that they have touched a key and the phone has registered it."

except for the sound and visual feedback. i guess this article doesn't count those as senses. that's some nice writing there, cnet.

it makes sense they would add this. i wouldn't count on it, but it makes sense. people are such babies about the virtual keyboard on the iphone.

[bloobble]

complete presentation of immersion solutions

actually the mobility business represent ~10% of their revenues... Complete investor presentations from Immersion can be found here :http://www.bloobble.com/broadband-presentations/lastpresentations?itemid=1240

[Mister Winky]

Suggestion: horizontal/widescreen orientation for texting & e-mail

Having playd with an iPhone a couple of times, I find the on-screen keyboard near impossible to use compared to a Treo or Blackberry.

One thing I noticed, however, is that Safari on the iPhone provides a widescreen keyboard for entering URLs when the iPhone is horizontally oriented. If Apple could add the ability to rotate the screen sideways when working with text and e-mail (i.e. offer the same widescreen keyboard for these functions), I think typing would be a LOT easier.

Anyone know if this is in the cards for 2.0?

-Mister Winky

[Steve.Stapleton]

Sight is a Sense

The line "there is no sensory indication that a key has been
touched and the phone has registered it" about the iPhone is
simply wrong. The may not be any tactile feedback, but one
can see the key has been touched, both because the key
enlarges and the letter is added to the text string involved, so
there is visual confirmation. Sight is one of the senses and
provides sensory indications. The iPhone does also react when
touched letting one know if the act registered.

I also must point out that states of being are held in verbs in
English, not nouns. Thus, "there isn't any sensory..." not "no
sensory," however colloquial. Rather lazy writing all the way
around.

[indiaforex]

I think it's a great idea but I don't think it's going to be executed correctly. I mean, you're still going to need to look at it - I don't think the actuators are going to give enough definition to the button.
Regards,
Indiaforex.com