haptics

American  

[hap-tiks] / ˈhæp tɪks /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. the branch of psychology that investigates sensory data and sensation derived from the sense of touch and localized on the skin.

2. Digital Technology. the study or use of tactile sensations and the sense of touch as a method of interacting with computers and electronic devices.

   Haptics allows you to feel and manipulate digitized objects in a virtual 3D environment.

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Other Word Forms

• haptic
  adjective
• haptical
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of haptics

First recorded in 1890–95; see origin at haptic; -ics

Example Sentences

Underneath the Alarm toggle, you can pick the alarm sound under Sounds & Haptics, set the alarm volume, and turn on or off the Snooze toggle.

From The Verge • Aug. 8, 2022

William Provancher, formerly a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Utah, now runs a startup called Tactical Haptics, and had the hit demo of the conference.

From The New Yorker • May 16, 2016

Haptics could force us to wrestle with the ambiguities of one wrist tap versus two.

From The Guardian • Sep. 30, 2014

Haptics is ‘one of the few technologies we’ll see in our lifetime that fundamentally changes computing,’ says Tom Anderson, CEO of tech firm Novint.

From Forbes • Mar. 18, 2014

Such proof will take time, said Allison Okamura, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Stanford who directs the Collaborative Haptics and Robotics in Medicine Lab.

From New York Times • Nov. 17, 2012