Rather than simply vibrating the device each time you touch a virtual button, this system shows a multi-tiered haptics system that is intelligent. The idea is that by having multiple layers that can protrude and recede, you can create raised buttons on a touch-based display. That virtual button, in effect, just became a real button that you can feel is raised up from the rest of the screen.

The applications for this technology are endless, of course, from better gaming controls to geological maps with real 3D depth. The top layer of the screen would presumably be elastic, but it’s still not entirely clear exactly how this works. Either way, is this something that Cupertino is exploring for the next iPhone or iPad? Would it really be as polished as Apple wants it to be?

[Source]

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It seems that Pantech is finally diving head first into the tablet market with the Element. The Element is a waterproof tablet that is designed to withstand a good splash, you can even submerge the new tablet in one meter of water for up to thirty minutes. Of course the question begs, why would you want to do that? Still, it’s nice to know there is finally a good tablet option for those of us that love going to the beach or pool.

The Element runs on a dual-core 1.5Ghz Snapdragon processor, has HDMI-out, 1080p video playback, and a 5MP camera. Of course, you only get Android 3.2 for now, though it is planned to have an upgrad path to Android 4.0 in the near future.

Outside of its fairly beefy specs, what really makes the Element stand out is that it will be the first tablet to feature Immersion’s Hi-Def Haptics technology that was soon off at CES. The Pantech Element combines a single piezo actuator from Samsung Electro-Mechanics Corp and the DRV-8662 haptic piezo driver from TI with Immersion’s TouchSense 5000 control software and MOTIV integrator tools.

Sounds complicated doesn’t it. So what does it all really mean? Simply put, it means it has cutting edge touch feedback effects.

Here is what Dennis Sheehan, Immersion’s vice president of marketing, had to say about the Immersion technology that will be found in the Element:

“Immersion’s TouchSense 5000 software takes advantage of the unique capabilities of high-fidelity actuators to create responsive and distinct haptic effects. By working with Pantech to customize the Element with our MOTIV Integrator, we developed an intuitive and engaging user experience. Users not only receive subtle and compelling enhancements to their device navigation, but they also receive enlivening haptic feedback for multi-media content.”

Overall this translates out to: Pantech’s first tablet is certainly no slouch by any means. The 8-inch tablet is also reasonably priced at $300 with a two-year contract and is planned for a January 22 release date.

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Haptic feedback has been around for a very long time, jiggling your handset ever so slightly when you tap on the virtual keyboard or hit a virtual button. For better or for worse, the iPhone lacks this feature. Well, that’s effectively changing today with the announcement of the Pulse.

Mophie and ViviTouch have partnered up to produce this iAccessory and it’s mostly catering to the folks who use their iPhones to play games. It’s like an iPhone case, except the goal is to give you haptic feedback, letting you “feel the difference between hundreds of sensations, not just the one-buzz-fits-all vibration before.”

This is nothing like having physical gaming controls, but if you’re looking for a little vibe to go with your Angry Birds, I guess this is it. The Mophie branded device, which doesn’t appear to have any battery-boosting functionality like its other Mophie cousins, also rocks a couple of stereo speakers. No word on price, but the Pulse is “coming soon” to an iRetailer near you.

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