The Apple Pencil has become an indispensable part of most iPad users. Some use the Apple Stylus for drawing, others use it to take notes. But something is missing - haptic feedback.
Some might be wondering why the Apple Pencil needs haptic feedback. Well, the recently discovered Apple patent, titled "Stylus with Haptic Feedback for Texture Simulation," answers precisely that question. The Apple Pencil is nearly perfect, but it doesn't provide the user with a true writing or drawing experience. However, this could change with the help of haptic feedback. Apple explains it in patent #20190384402 as follows:
A stylus may include a housing and a tip. A force sensing system may detect movement of the tip relative to the housing when force is applied to the tip. A haptic feedback system may move the tip relative to the housing, e.g. by inducing a magnetic field in magnetic elements connected to the tip and the housing. The haptic feedback may be used to reproduce texture sensations to simulate drawing on a textured surface with the stylus. For example, the same tip used for input may receive haptic feedback during use. The user may continue to use the tip for input even though the tip is also receiving haptic feedback.
Research known since 2015
This patent is not the first of its kind. Apple registered the subject in a similar form in 2015 and used the same drawings. But there is one difference, and this can be found in the tip of the Apple Pencil. While the entire pencil was supposed to react to pressure back then, Apple has now decided to reduce the haptic feedback to just the tip. The result would be a realistic simulation that would probably not be possible in any other way. The patent proves once again that Apple is still interested in equipping the Apple Pencil with haptic feedback in order to be able to simulate a real pencil. If, and we can assume that, Apple actually succeeds in implementing it, such a feature is likely to cause a great stir. However, since it is a patent, it should be treated with caution. It is not uncommon for such ideas to end up remaining just an idea. Would you like to get an Apple Pencil? Then take a look at our Apfelpatient Amazon Shop over. (Photo by Poravute Siriphiroon / Bigstockphoto)
