We usually associate ‘Haptics’ with touching or feeling things with one’s hands – but it can encompass a lot more than that. Haptics is a sensory relationship between us and everything external to us. It includes, for example, the feeling of texture when you touch an object, the actual feeling of pushing a switch and the emotions evoked when having physical contact, such as the feeling of trust one might establish through a handshake.

Traditionally, most of the research that is carried out in the area of haptics study pertains to that of pressure and vibration, perceptions of temperature and quantification. But the way we think about “touch” is changing; in recent years, scientists and researchers have been expanding the field of haptics – such as studying the way humans perceive objects when given visual impressions, memories or experiences. By recognizing the human senses as a complex, multifaceted system, we will be able to better utilize and understand haptics.

Thinking about the contexts we take away, or imagine, from haptics is important. Seeing an image of nature or listening to quiet music when we want to relax is not so much a matter of “processing information” but rather, a “healing” sensory experience. For me, the future of haptics design lies within these interactions.

‘Softness’, the best feature of silicone gel, is difficult to quantify – especially in haptics study. At the same time, it’s the same ‘softness’ that we can recall from our childhoods as that which brought us comfort and tenderness. I believe that new possibilities in haptic design will come from being able to draw out these formative experiences and designing with context.

* Cross-modal (multisensory integration): Phenomenon where five senses interact