Kyocera Corporation announced that HAPTIVITY, its proprietary tactile technology that replicates realistic touch sensations, has been integrated into the Sigma BF, a full-size mirrorless camera to be released this month. This is the first application of HAPTIVITY in a mirrorless camera.
HAPTIVITY is a groundbreaking technology that harnesses Kyocera’s piezoelectric ceramic vibrating elements to create truly immersive tactile sensations. Biomechanically engineered vibration waveforms provide tactile feedback by stimulating neural receptors in the user’s fingertip, providing physical verification when a button is depressed and released — or even simulating the feel of a physical button where none exists.
Kyocera’s HAPTIVITY technology integrates seamlessly into Sigma BF’s three recessed rear buttons (Function Dial, Options, and Playback — including the dial’s up, down, left, and right touchpoints), for accurate, comfortable, intuitive operation. Haptic feedback ensures reliable performance by enhancing user confidence and avoiding duplicate commands.
Kyocera envisions a future where HAPTIVITY becomes a ubiquitous, high-performance tactile technology. With its piezoelectric ceramic vibrating elements, HAPTIVITY has the potential to revolutionize consumer and automotive applications as an essential component of the next-generation human-machine interface. It can improve the user experience for any device having physical buttons, or having screens and panels designed to provide tactile feedback.
HAPTIVITY is a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation. Kyocera’s patented tactile transmission technology optimally controls pressure detection, reproduction of the feeling of pressing a mechanical button, and vibration activation using a combination of piezoelectric elements, vibration amplification mechanisms, control circuits, and software.
Features of HAPTIVITY
1. Excellent vibration response
HAPTIVITY uses a piezoelectric ceramic vibrating element with excellent touch-response, delivering physical feedback that instantly confirms user input and eliminates duplicate commands.
2. Realistic tactile feeling
A mechanical button delivers two sensations: on press, and on release. Conventional tactile technology generates a single sensation (when pressed), which differs from the tactile feeling of a button. In contrast, HAPTIVITY generates an initial vibration when pressed, and a second vibration when released, providing a more realistic button sensation.
3. Tactile confirmation improves operation
Immediate tactile feedback confirms user input instantly, ensuring reliable operation and eliminating ambiguity. This makes HAPTIVITY ideal for demanding applications, including mobility, telemedicine, and industrial equipment.
4. Recessed buttons save space, increasing design freedom
HAPTIVITY facilitates compact, thin, flat designs, allowing recessed buttons that promote space-saving and greater freedom of design.
