HAPTIC-FORCE TOUCH™
Haptic touch solutions from NEXT SYSTEM
When glass suddenly talks back
Touchscreens are smooth, elegant, minimalistic—and about as tactile as a glass facade. Ever since the first capacitive surface was introduced, we’ve been asking ourselves the same question: Why does it feel like nothing?
HUI instead of GUI
The Haptic User Interface (HUI) marks the beginning of the next stage of evolution after the classic GUI.
When visual and auditory channels are exhausted, the sense of touch remains an underestimated high-bandwidth interface between humans and machines. And no—we’re not talking about vibrating smartphones that feel like an excited insect in an aluminum case. We’re talking about controlled, physically modeled interaction with defined dynamics and a reproducible force profile.
From 2D to tangible interaction
Every mechanical button implicitly provides a trigger point, a restoring force, a force-displacement diagram, and clear confirmation. Touchscreens have sacrificed this in favor of design. Our HAPTIC-FORCE TOUCH™ solutions bring back this physical intelligence—achieved with a stroke of just 0.2 mm. Minimal mechanics. Maximum effect.
Flat glass surfaces become moldable interaction spaces. 2D becomes 3D – through force and precise haptic feedback.
The result is not only a tangible impulse, but a consistent interaction experience.
Force sensing – because precision is crucial
In industrial applications, an incorrect input cannot be dismissed with a simple “oops.” Production downtime, safety risks, or critical medical situations are real consequences.
Integrated force sensing allows the trigger force to be freely defined. A touch is not automatically a command. The cursor can move without triggering an event. The action is only executed when a defined force is reached. Different force levels can trigger different functions.
This not only increases the precision of the interaction, but also safety to 100%: Unintentional inputs, known as “ghost touches,” are systematically excluded—for clearly validated and reproducible operation.
The touchscreen suddenly distinguishes between hover, soft touch, confirmed press, or hard press—welcome to the third dimension of interaction!
Actuators with a systematic approach – the heart of the tactile display
Depending on the application, we use different haptic technologies and always choose the solution that best suits the functional and systemic requirements.
We primarily work with piezo actuators, which enable particularly precise and versatile haptic profiles thanks to their high dynamics and wide frequency bandwidth. In addition, depending on requirements such as stroke, force, installation space, or energy efficiency, other actuator principles and passive haptic elements are also available.
The decisive factor is not the individual technology, but the optimal interaction between actuators, sensors, software, and UX.
If looking is not an option
In machine controls, medical devices, off-road vehicles, or safety-critical environments, haptic feedback reduces cognitive load and increases safety. With HAPTIC-FORCE TOUCH™, operation is possible without constant visual fixation.
An additional layer of tactile information is created especially for blind and visually impaired people—for example, in elevators, ATMs, or ticket machines.
More than just effective: a system
A technically perfect signal only feels right when the mechanics, signal path, mass, and subjective perception all match. That’s why we think holistically—in terms of systems rather than individual components.
HAPTIC STARTER KIT – Feel instead of just reading
Haptics is best understood through experience. The Haptic Evolution Kit offers a quick and practical introduction to our HAPTIC-FORCE TOUCH™ technology—based on our Piezo Actuator M1.
The M1 is characterized by large deflection, high acceleration, and very fast response times. Integrated CapSense and piezo sensing functions enable precise interaction detection directly in the actuator.
With compact dimensions of 22 x 22 x 10 mm (plus connection cable), a weight of only 5 g, and a temperature range of −30 °C to +80 °C, the M1 is suitable for demanding industrial and automotive applications.
The kit contains four Piezo Actuator M1s with controllers, cable sets, integrated capacitive force sensors, and a mechanical mounting housing. Commissioning is carried out as a plug-and-play solution with a 7″ display touch assembly or modularly via a breakout board for other formats.
Connect, configure—and experience how glass suddenly responds!
If your display doesn’t push back yet, it’s only half as smart as our HAPTIC-FORCE TOUCH™ solutions.
Haptics must be felt. But before you can feel it, you have to understand it. And that’s exactly where we come in.
YOUR NEXT SYSTEM
