Abstract:
An apparatus comprising at least oneprocessor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to provide a first state or a second state for an electrode, wherein in the first state, the electrode is configured for use in the detection of touch input, and in the second state, the electrode is configured for use in the provision of haptic feedback.
Abstract:
Apparatus comprising :a first surface electrode and an arrangement of second insulated surface electrodes; a display configured to display an image; and a controller configured to apply a potential difference between the first surface electrode and the arrangement of second insulated surface electrodes and configured to control at least a variation in the applied potential difference in dependence upon the displayed image.
Abstract:
Apparatus comprises an actuator configured to provide vibrational movement of the apparatus in a first plane or having a component in the first plane, and a traction part configured to support a portion of the apparatus on a surface, a plane of the surface being perpendicular to the first plane,the traction part being configured to transform the vibrational movement of the apparatus into movement of the portion of the apparatus in a direction along the surface,the direction of the movement being predetermined by an orientation of the traction part.
Abstract:
An apparatus includes a deformable structure in which a neural network comprising a plurality of deformation sensors (8a, 8b), e.g. nanowire sensors, and distributed in-situ processing circuits (9a, 10a). The circuits generate a signal characterising features of the local deformation of the structure and/or a command signal corresponding to the detected deformation. The structure may be a wearable sleeve that conforms to deformations of a user's skin, part of an electronic device, such as a touch sensitive screen, or an object in itself. The apparatus can provide a user interface wherein a command corresponding to a current shape of the structure is generated and acted upon by a integrated or remote device, or a device for monitoring a user's position or movement e.g. for replication by a robotic device. The apparatus may have machine learning capability to improve the matching of commands with determined shapes of the deformable structure.
Abstract:
An input device (1, 25) for a user interface comprises means to monitor movement of a user by mapping and recording deformations of their skin. The input device (1, 25) comprises conformable/reversibly stretchable material for placement onto the skin of a user. A plurality of sensors (30) are mounted on, or embedded in, the stretchable material and arranged to undergo, and track in-plane and out-of-plane deformations corresponding to stretching and flexure of the underlying skin. A signal for controlling another device (26) is then generated, based on the detected movement, gesture or positioning of the user based on the detected deformations. In wearable electronics applications, the other device may be mounted on the same stretchable material. The sensors (30) may be arranged to provide active feedback, by selectively applying vibrations or pressure to the user's skin.
Abstract:
A method for communicating navigational instructions to a user. The user wears/touches skin electrodes that are operatively coupled to a navigational device. A navigational device generates signals for activating the skin electrodes based on direction indications generated by the navigation device. An apparatus including a navigational device and at least two skin electrodes. The navigational device generates activation signals for the skin electrode based on navigational instructions generated by the navigational device.
Abstract:
A method of enabling a search using an electronic device, the method comprising, detecting actuation of a user input dedicated to provide access to a graphical user interface, and presenting, in response to the actuation of the dedicated user input, the graphical user interface for enabling a user to input a search parameter where the search parameter may be any one of a plurality of different types of media.
Abstract:
A keyboard device formed of a generally planar interaction module having first and second sides, comprising a plurality of input indicia displayed on a first side, a matrix of micro- switchers coupled to the second side of the interaction module formed of a generally planar first electrode sheet having a first plurality of generally parallel conductive traces each separated by one of a first plurality of insulation traces on a first side of the first generally planar electrode sheet, and a generally planar second electrode sheet having a second plurality of generally parallel conductive traces each separated by one of a second plurality of insulation traces on a first side of the second generally planar electrode sheet, and a generally planar piezo sheet having a first side coupled to the first side of the generally planar first electrode sheet and a second side coupled to the first side of the generally planar second electrode sheet .
Abstract:
An apparatus comprises a shaft (309), which is configured to be gripped by a user during use of the apparatus to provide a touch input to a touch input panel. In the shaft (309), a tip (310) is located at an interacting end of the apparatus for interacting with the touch input panel, the tip (310) comprises an electrically conductive element (311) and an electrically insulating material (312), the electrically insulating material (312) is configured to capacitively decouple the electrically conductive element (311) from the shaft and/or user. Furthermore, the electrically conductive element (31 1) is configured to couple capacitively to an electrotactile electrode (307) of the touch input panel when the electrically conductive element (311) is in proximity to the electrotactile electrode (307), capacitive coupling between the electrically conductive element (311) and the electrotactile electrode (307) configured to create vibrations in the tip of the apparatus to cause a variation in the frictional force between the tip (310) and the touch input panel as perceived by a user gripping the shaft (309) of the apparatus during relative lateral movement of the tip (310) and touch input panel.
Abstract:
An apparatus comprising first and second electrodes (602,603) separated by an electrolyte (618), at least one of the first and second electrodes (602,603) comprising an actuating substrate (619,620) configured to undergo reversible deformation during actuation, wherein reversible deformation of the actuating substrate (619,620) causes a decrease in the internal resistance of the apparatus.