(February 16, 2016) Queen’s
University’s Human Media Lab to unveil world’s first wireless flexible
smartphone; simulates feeling of navigating pages via haptic bend input
Researchers at Queen’s University’s Human Media Lab have
developed the world’s first full-colour, high-resolution and wireless flexible
smartphone to combine multitouch with bend input. The phone, which they have
named ReFlex, allows users to experience physical tactile feedback when
interacting with their apps through bend gestures.
“This represents a completely new way of physical
interaction with flexible smartphones” says Roel Vertegaal (School of
Computing), director of the Human Media Lab at Queen’s University.
“When this smartphone is bent down on the right, pages flip
through the fingers from right to left, just like they would in a book. More
extreme bends speed up the page flips. Users can feel the sensation of the page
moving through their fingertips via a detailed vibration of the phone. This
allows eyes-free navigation, making it easier for users to keep track of where
they are in a document.”
ReFlex is based on a high definition 720p LG Display
Flexible OLED touch screen powered by an Android 4.4 “KitKat” board mounted to
the side of the display. Bend sensors behind the display sense the force with
which a user bends the screen, which is made available to apps for use as
input. ReFlex also features a voice coil that allows the phone to simulate
forces and friction through highly detailed vibrations of the display. Combined
with the passive force feedback felt when bending the display, this allows for
a highly realistic simulation of physical forces when interacting with virtual
objects.
“This allows for the most accurate physical simulation of
interacting with virtual data possible on a smartphone today,” says Dr.
Vertegaal. “When a user plays the “Angry Birds” game with ReFlex, they bend the
screen to stretch the sling shot. As the rubber band expands, users experience
vibrations that simulate those of a real stretching rubber band. When released,
the band snaps, sending a jolt through the phone and sending the bird flying
across the screen.”