Imagine being limited to just a few pre-set phone vibrations when receiving different kinds of alerts. Notifications from every app prompt the same, jolting haptic response, making it challenging to distinguish between an urgent email and a casual Instagram like, without checking your device. This uniformity in haptic feedback is an unresolved issue, especially prevalent in gadgets like phones or tablets.
Not only does this limit personalization, but it also gobbles up significant memory space on your device and uses substantial communication bandwidths to the extent that it can delay the delivery of the haptic response. Lastly, this one-size-fits-all approach often restricts the haptic feedback to be specific to a device, actuator, or application – hindering a seamless digital experience.
According to the newly filed patent US11809630B1 by Meta Platforms Technologies, they could improve this inefficiency with a new system, dubbed a 'haptics library'. It offers diverse vibrations, both predefined and parametrically-defined, that can easily adapt to various applications and is applicable across a wide range of gadgets. This eliminates the need for specific haptic vibrations for each application and results in saving precious device storage.
Let's visualise how this could alter the world. Imagine using your Meta Quest VR Headset in a game, where instead of universal vibrations for every game function, you get unique vibrations for each action – like an intense shake when an enemy attacks or a subtle pulse when you pick up a health potion. You can differentiate the alerts, adding nuance to your gaming experience – all thanks to the dynamic nature of the new haptic effects library.
However, remember, this is just a patent by Meta Platforms Technologies. Although the figures clearly outline the applications and benefits of this technology, there is no guarantee that it will make a market entry or go into production. But it's certainly an exciting peek into what the future of user-device interaction could look like!