Haptic feedback beyond vibration
Exploring the shift from crude vibration motors to precision tap actuators, and the tactile communication systems they make possible.
April 15, 2026
Haptic feedback has been part of consumer electronics since pagers in the 1990s, yet the vast majority of devices still rely on vibration motors that collapse all signals into one undifferentiated buzz. The shift to nonlinear tap-based actuation is redefining how wearables communicate through touch.
ReadMarch 25, 2026
Every wristband and smartwatch communicates through a small motor that vibrates. The reason wearables remain stuck in single-channel mode is that consumer actuators haven't been capable of more. Nonlinear mechanisms that produce clean taps open a design space where tactile language becomes practical.
ReadMarch 4, 2026
Language transmitted through touch is not new. What is new is delivering a practical tactile language through a wearable device worn continuously. This requires hardware that produces clean, repeatable taps and a design methodology connecting perception science to interaction engineering.
Read