A haptic output system configured to generate haptic effects, through a user input surface, by varying one or more haptic output characteristics of one or more haptic elements (e.g., vibrating elements, electrostatic elements, thermal elements, and so on) based on substantially real-time touch input and/or force input information. In this manner, the haptic output system effectively simulates the presence of a physical object (e.g., having textures, edges, features, mechanical responses, and so on) on the user input surface.