AbstractsEngineering

The project worked on goes by the name of “ForcePhone II.” It follows in the footsteps of the previous “ForcePhone” project developed by Nokia Research and the Helsinki Institute of Information Technology. [HSH12] The original ForcePhone took pressure feedback from a caller who would squeeze a phone, in this case a Nokia N900 with a built in pressure sensor, and then would send the receiver differing strengths of vibration based on the strength of the squeeze. A stronger squeeze would deliver a stronger vibration. Our task with the ForcePhone II is to investigate how other forms of haptic input and feedback can be used to increase communication bandwidth. To do this we built a prototype that would go by the name of “ForcePhone II.” This prototype allows us to research and experiment alternative forms of haptic feedback. The prototype includes a heating pad on the backside of the device, a rope that tightens over the users hand on the side, and a vibrating motor inside. In our experiment we will be testing user’s reactions to the outputs of pressure, vibration, and heat. This is to answer our central research question: Is pressure and/or heat a useful alternative to the existing ‘silent’ stimuli provided by today’s phones?