Design Principles
Designing haptic feedback can be a challenging and intimidating task. The following principles have proven successful throughout numerous projects and are here to help yours.
Where to start?
The principles are grouped by the stages of a user-centred design process. For each stage you will find a description of the task as well as the outcome. Keep in mind that every application is different, and account for multiple iterations along the way to achieve the desired goal.
It's a good idea to go through the principles and process steps before starting a new project. This allows you to become familiar with the overall structure and will help you focus on the most important aspects. Throughout the project, you can refer to each phase separately and use the principles to cross-check your ideas or gather inspiration.
Hover or tap on each principle to learn more - Let's get started!
Concept
Analyze the context before you start
Task:
Start by laying out the interaction concept. Analyze the physical object, environment, and target user within the context. Consider the material properties, where the actuator can be positioned, and how/when the user is in physical contact. Define why and how haptic feedback is appropriate in this situation.
Outcome:
A detailed description of the interaction, object and context.
Concept
Analyze the context before you start
Task:
Start by laying out the interaction concept. Analyze the physical object, environment, and target user within the context. Consider the material properties, where the actuator can be positioned, and how/when the user is in physical contact. Define why and how haptic feedback is appropriate in this situation.
Outcome:
A detailed description of the interaction, object and context.
Concept
Analyze the context before you start
Task:
Start by laying out the interaction concept. Analyze the physical object, environment, and target user within the context. Consider the material properties, where the actuator can be positioned, and how/when the user is in physical contact. Define why and how haptic feedback is appropriate in this situation.
Outcome:
A detailed description of the interaction, object and context.
Consider a multimodal experience whenever possible
Consider a multimodal experience whenever possible
It is difficult to create isolated haptic feedback in objects
It is difficult to create isolated haptic feedback in objects
Be aware of the required assembly space
Be aware of the required assembly space
Ideate & Experience
Get to know the technology
Task:
Try out different actuators and acquire a sense for their characteristics and possibilities. Don't overcomplicate this step by making use of quick and dirty prototyping. Consider the placement within the object as well as the body position and play with different ways to attach the actuator.
Outcome:
A selection of the most promising actuators and body locations.
Ideate & Experience
Get to know the technology
Task:
Try out different actuators and acquire a sense for their characteristics and possibilities. Don't overcomplicate this step by making use of quick and dirty prototyping. Consider the placement within the object as well as the body position and play with different ways to attach the actuator.
Outcome:
A selection of the most promising actuators and body locations.
Ideate & Experience
Get to know the technology
Task:
Try out different actuators and acquire a sense for their characteristics and possibilities. Don't overcomplicate this step by making use of quick and dirty prototyping. Consider the placement within the object as well as the body position and play with different ways to attach the actuator.
Outcome:
A selection of the most promising actuators and body locations.
Create tailored feedback for each body part
Create tailored feedback for each body part
Choose the actuator based on the desired characteristic
Choose the actuator based on the desired characteristic
The signal generation can be equally important
The signal generation can be equally important
Define
Specify the characteristics
Task:
Define the characteristics of the feedback based on the context, scenario, and actuator. Think about how your message can be communicated through haptics and try to describe it as detailed as possible. Make use of references (e.g., a light switch, electric toothbrush) and collect any words or sounds that come to your mind (e.g., soft, precise, a bee, brrrrrtz)
Outcome:
A thorough description of the desired feedback characteristics.
Define
Specify the characteristics
Task:
Define the characteristics of the feedback based on the context, scenario, and actuator. Think about how your message can be communicated through haptics and try to describe it as detailed as possible. Make use of references (e.g., a light switch, electric toothbrush) and collect any words or sounds that come to your mind (e.g., soft, precise, a bee, brrrrrtz)
Outcome:
A thorough description of the desired feedback characteristics.
Define
Specify the characteristics
Task:
Define the characteristics of the feedback based on the context, scenario, and actuator. Think about how your message can be communicated through haptics and try to describe it as detailed as possible. Make use of references (e.g., a light switch, electric toothbrush) and collect any words or sounds that come to your mind (e.g., soft, precise, a bee, brrrrrtz)
Outcome:
A thorough description of the desired feedback characteristics.
Define before design
Define before design
Differentiate from surrounding influences
Differentiate from surrounding influences
Reference real-world experiences
Reference real-world experiences
Modulate
Designing the feedback
Task:
Modulate the feedback according to the concept, definition, and actuator capabilities. This step is crucial and might take some time to master. Account for multiple iterations to tune the parameters for a perfect fit.
Outcome:
Multiple feedback drafts to evaluate in a user test.
Modulate
Designing the feedback
Task:
Modulate the feedback according to the concept, definition, and actuator capabilities. This step is crucial and might take some time to master. Account for multiple iterations to tune the parameters for a perfect fit.
Outcome:
Multiple feedback drafts to evaluate in a user test.
Modulate
Designing the feedback
Task:
Modulate the feedback according to the concept, definition, and actuator capabilities. This step is crucial and might take some time to master. Account for multiple iterations to tune the parameters for a perfect fit.
Outcome:
Multiple feedback drafts to evaluate in a user test.
Keep up the coherency between different modalities
Keep up the coherency between different modalities
Clearly differentiate haptic sensations
Clearly differentiate haptic sensations
Keep the feedback short, simple, and consistent
Keep the feedback short, simple, and consistent
Use an adequate intensity and amount of feedback
Use an adequate intensity and amount of feedback
Integrate & Evaluate
Assess the interaction
Task:
Compare the achieved sensation with the defined characteristics. Make sure to not only test it on your desktop, but in the final context with multiple users and feedback variations. Try to create a realistic setup and environment which is as close to the final product as possible (and with as little effort as possible, e.g., Wizard-of-oz)
Outcome:
A haptic interaction which fits the concept, product, and user requirements. In the vast majority of cases, this will require multiple iterations of testing and refining. It might also lead to reframing your initial concept.
Integrate & Evaluate
Assess the interaction
Task:
Compare the achieved sensation with the defined characteristics. Make sure to not only test it on your desktop, but in the final context with multiple users and feedback variations. Try to create a realistic setup and environment which is as close to the final product as possible (and with as little effort as possible, e.g., Wizard-of-oz)
Outcome:
A haptic interaction which fits the concept, product, and user requirements. In the vast majority of cases, this will require multiple iterations of testing and refining. It might also lead to reframing your initial concept.
Integrate & Evaluate
Assess the interaction
Task:
Compare the achieved sensation with the defined characteristics. Make sure to not only test it on your desktop, but in the final context with multiple users and feedback variations. Try to create a realistic setup and environment which is as close to the final product as possible (and with as little effort as possible, e.g., Wizard-of-oz)
Outcome:
A haptic interaction which fits the concept, product, and user requirements. In the vast majority of cases, this will require multiple iterations of testing and refining. It might also lead to reframing your initial concept.
Evaluate and interate in multiple instances
Evaluate and interate in multiple instances
Try it out in the final object and material
Try it out in the final object and material
Evaluate in the final context
Evaluate in the final context
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