User:Jasonkeefe/sandbox/Force Touch

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Force Touch
File:Force Touch TrackPad,
BrandApple Inc.
First releasedSeptember 29, 2014 (2014-09-29)
Availability by regionApril 24, 2015 (2015-04-24)
Websitewww.apple.com

Force Touch is a technology developed by Apple Inc. First unveiled on September 9, 2014 during the Apple Watch Conference, Force Touch is a pressure sensitive multi-touch technology that enables trackpads and touchscreen to distinguish between different levels of force being applied to their surfaces[1]. Force Touch is intended to be used to unlock new functionality to the user interface by providing another dimension to mobile computing. Beginning with the Apple Watch, Force Touch has been introduced to many of the products within Apple's lineup, including the MacBook, MacBook Pro, Magic TrackPad.[2]

Hardware[edit]

Force Touch is the product of many components. In summary, Force Touch equipped trackpads and touchscreen will detect force through sensors that then relay the information to the Taptic Engine, which then responds through the use of Haptic Feedback, for the user to interpret.

The Process[edit]

The science behind Force Touch begins with a press. In Apple Watch, a series of electrodes line the curvature of the screen. When a press is detected, these electrodes determine the pressure produced. Similar to this is Force Touch in MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Magic Trackpad, except sensory information is determined by a series of four sensors that align with the corners of the trackpad. The feedback is then relayed to the Taptic Engine. The Taptic Engine is an electromagnetic linear actuator. A linear actuator is an engine that produces motion in a straight line. Unlike typical motors, the linear actuator does not not move in circular formations, but rather in straight horizontal lines back and forth. This linear actuator is unlike traditional vibration motors, which function by offsetting their mass to form a rotation, and instead, the Taptic Engine is able to reach peak output in a single cycle, and stop just as quickly. Because of this, Apple's Taptic Engine is able to produce immediate feedback and the reaction time is cut because there is no need to offset the balance of mass. The response that the Taptic Engine produces is called Haptic feedback(responsive vibration). Haptic Feedback is generally a very precise vibration that relays information back to the user with precision.[3]

While at first glance, the trackpads and screens of the Force Touch equipped devices do not seem different from previous generations, the internals prove otherwise.[4]

Functionality[edit]

Extending past the key functionality of Multi-Touch[5], with tap, swipe and pinch, Force Touch takes advantage of its hardware to increase functionality and ease of use. "Press", "deep press", and "pop" are three terms used to describe the new ways touch screens can be used.

According to Apple Inc. the following functions will increase productivity while using Force Touch.

  • Force clicking text in a webpage or Mail message will bring up more information from sources like Dictionary, Wikipedia, and many more.t
  • Force clicking an address will bring up a Maps preview of that location.
  • Force clicking dates and events will add them to Calendar. 
  • Force clicking an airline flight number will bring up details about the flight.
  • Force clicking a link in Safari or Mail will bring up an inline preview of the webpage.
  • Force clicking a tracking number in Safari or Mail will bring up the shipping details in a popover.
  • Force clicking a file icon will bring up a Quick Look preview of the file's content.
  • Force clicking an app in the Dock will access App Exposé.
  • Force clicking an attachment will activate Markup which will annotate the attachment.
  • Force clicking a conversation in the sidebar will bring up details and attachments. 
  • Force clicking a reminder will bring up more details.
  • Force clicking an event to see more details. Force click a meeting attendee to see their contact card in a popover. 
  • Force clicking a location in a map will drop a pin there.[6]

Products[edit]

Force Touch is currently embedded into the screens and trackpads of the Apple Watch, 2015 MacBook Pro (13.3 inch and 15 inch), 2015 MacBook, and the 2015 Magic Trackpad. 3D Touch, see 3D Touch in iPhone, is available in the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. We can assume that Apple will continue to incorporate this technology into the rest of its extensive line of products.

iPhone and 3D Touch[edit]

The iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus are equipped with 3D Touch. Also developed by Apple Inc, 3D Touch is a technology very similar to Force Touch that includes a similar Taptic Engine, but 3D Touch is has been designed to be more sensitive[7]. Due to the many new features that pressure sensitivity in iPhone introduces, 3D Touch has capacitive sensors integrated directly into Retina HD display. When a press is detected, These capacitive sensors measure microscopic changes in the distance between the backlight and the cover glass. This information is then combined with signals accelerometer and touch sensors to provide an accurate interpretation of the users intentions. The linear actuator within the Taptic Engine is capable of reaching peak output in just one cycle, and produce vibrations that last 10 milliseconds.

Future[edit]

Force Touch, and its ability to bring new dimensions to user interfaces and interactive computing, suggests that easy of use is something that tech companies will hold very high on their list of priorities, according to Jony Ive, Chief Design Officer at Apple[8]. Just months after the introduction of 3D Touch in iPhone, rumors suggest that Samsung will include a similar hardware in their Samsung Galaxy S 7, and other devices. [9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "What is Force Touch? Apple's haptic feedback technology explained - Pocket-lint". www.pocket-lint.com. https://plus.google.com/+Pocket-lint. Retrieved 2015-11-09. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "Apple". Apple. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  3. ^ "Getting under the surface of Apple's new Force Touch trackpad". Macworld UK. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  4. ^ "The science behind Force Touch and the Taptic Engine". iMore. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  5. ^ "Multi-touch". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "Using a Force Touch trackpad - Apple Support". support.apple.com. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  7. ^ "Yes, There Is a Difference Between 3D Touch and Force Touch". WIRED. https://plus.google.com/+WIRED. Retrieved 2015-11-10. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "Apple". Apple. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  9. ^ "Samsung Reportedly Adding A '3D Touch' Feature To Galaxy Phones Next Year". Forbes. Retrieved 2015-11-09.

External links[edit]

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