NXT adds feel to touchscreens via haptic technology and Japan’s Nissha Printing Co
Flat panel sound specialist NXT plc said it has licensed Japanese development partner Nissha Printing Co Ltd to introduce its novel bending wave haptic technology, which enables tactile feedback from touchscreens.
Nissha has an exclusive worldwide licence to use NXT's haptic and associated technology to be applied in certain small touchscreen applications for an initial three year period.
NXT said one of Nissha's main business fields is Input Devices, in which it holds a leading share of the global small-to-medium touch panels market. Nissha has the world's largest production capacity for these touch panels which it makes for use primarily in mobile phones and gaming consoles.
NXT's SoundVu technology enables a transparent touch panel to become a loudspeaker. The technology uses a piezo actuator to introduce bending waves into the touch panel to create a loudspeaker. If appropriate signals are applied it is possible to "feel" the vibrations on the screen, allowing haptic feedback as well as high quality audio directly from a suitable touchscreen.
The flexibility in NXT haptic technology allowed the development of algorithms and design rules that stimulate the feel of writing or drawing on a textured surface. This results in a simulated "feel" of a pencil writing on paper while using a stylus on a touchscreen.
An additional feature in development is a multi-touch haptics capability. This will achieve separate tactile feedback sensations at different locations while two or more fingers are in contact with the touchscreen.
CEO Peter Thoms said: "It is clear ... that haptic feedback-enabled touchscreens are a key growth area within the consumer electronics industry and we look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Nissha, as we move towards commercialisation."
NXT's shares gained 7.5% on the news. The Cambridge-HQed Group is now valued at around £15.5m.
