Senseg Brings Texture to Touchscreens
This, quite possibly, could be one of the coolest new technologies we’ll see in the near future. A technology company called “Senseg” is developing a touchscreen technology which allows touchscreens to come to life with textures, contours, and edges that users can feel. They claim that they can turn touchscreens into “feel screens” and they are working with Smartphone and tablet developers to make this a reality.

You may be familiar with the term “haptics”. Haptics is the technology that allows you to feel that little vibration at the tip of your finger when you press on your Smartphone touchscreen. Senseg has brought haptics to a whole new level. Their patented technology introduces the “Tixel”. To quote their website, “by passing an ultra-low electrical current into the insulated electrode, Senseg’s Tixelâ„¢, the proprietary charge driver, can create a small attractive force to finger skin.” This attractive force basically creates the sensation of sharp edges and rough surfaces.

Senseg’s solution is comprised of three core elements:
- Senseg’s unique Tixel technology that activates the touch screen for electrostatic vibration
- Senseg’s electronics module
- Senseg software that manages effects in applications
The “Tixel” is essentially a special coating that can be applied to a touchscreen surface to give the sense of texture. Keep in mind that there are no moving parts. The sensations are electrical and immediate. The electronics module manages the electrical signals that are sent to the “Tixel”. Lastly, the software can be configured by developers to enhance the consumer experience with a wide range of haptic capabilities.
Imagine being able to look at a painting on your Smartphone and be able to feel the artist’s brush strokes. I could see this being great for teachers when they teach small children about different textures. Imagine the uses for the blind. How cool would it be to have braille on a touchscreen? The really cool thing about this technology is that it can be applied to just about any kind of surface, including curved, flat, and soft.
It appears that this technology is in the development stages but will appear in consumer electronics within the next 12 months. In the meantime, if you would like to keep up with Senseg, visit their website at www.senseg.com.

Darrin is an IT manager for a large electrical contractor in Louisville KY. He is married and has 3 kids. He loves helping people with their technology needs. He runs a blog called
Say Geek! Darrin Jenkins has written 135 articles for us.
The author of this post can be contacted at darrin@techie-buzz.com
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