BlackBerry Storm 3G’s Nifty Tactile Touchscreen

It has strongly been rumoured for some time that the new BlackBerry Storm mobile phone 3G will operate the latest haptic technology. This means that when you press the screen you get instant live feedback to your fingertip giving you the sensation that you’re typing on a real keypad. You’ll hear an audible clicking sound and feel a buzz in your fingertip where you’ve actually pressed the display.

A responsive touchscreen BlackBerry like this is sure to give it the edge over its competitors because it’s based on the latest speedy and efficient BlackBerry OS while also giving the benefits of a huge touchscreen for web browsing, reading and viewing media. Sounds like a formidable combination.

Of course, there are always sceptics out there. I’m sure some users might view localised haptics as more gimicky than functional but research has proved there are clear benefits of having haptic technology in mobile devices, which we’ll look at below:

Disadvantages of a non-tactile touchscreen

There is undoubtedly a problem with standard touchscreen keyboard devices including the iPhone’s. Notably, the lack of stimulus for the sense of touch. In other words, it doesn’t touch you back. Users can only rely on audio and physical cues, which can be ineffective in mobile phones.

Most of the interaction on a non-tactile mobile such as the iPhone is visual, which places heavy demand on the user’s visual attention. This can be dangerous in certain situations, or even distracting in a business meeting. That is why many still prefer pressing buttons to a piece of flat glass.

The Fifth Sense - Benefits of BlackBerry Storm’s Haptic Keyboard

Haptic refers to the sense of touch, and many touch screen devices, until now, have overlooked the benefits of this. By using haptic feedback the users can physically feel their interface and any feedback provided. This reduces the visual strain allowing for more socially appropriate and subtle interaction. Recent studies have also shown that haptic keyboards can be beneficial to mobile users by increasing typing speeds and reducing errors.