What is haptic in silent mode?

What is haptic feedback?

Haptic feedback, also known as haptics, refers to the use of touch sensation and control to interact with computer applications. The word haptic comes from the Greek word “haptikos” meaning “able to touch.” Haptic feedback involves applying forces or vibrations to the user through technology in order to communicate information about what is being interacted with. This allows the user to receive information through the sense of touch.

There are two main types of haptic feedback: tactile feedback and force feedback. Tactile feedback recreates the sense of touch by applying vibrations to the user. For example, when you touch a button on your smartphone screen, it vibrates briefly to indicate you pressed it successfully. This type of haptic feedback is commonly used in touchscreens and other user interfaces.

Force feedback uses resistance and force sensations. It applies forces to the user to simulate interactions with physical objects. For example, a video game controller with force feedback can vibrate when your virtual car runs off the track. Force feedback devices often have motors and actuators that can produce stronger sensations than simpler tactile feedback vibrations. This allows the creation of more realistic illusions of interacting with objects, feeling their weight, textures, and movements.

Overall, haptic technology aims to improve the user experience by adding the sense of touch to visual and auditory stimuli. This can make interactions more intuitive, enjoyable, and immersive. The addition of touch feedback allows the user to feel connected to the interface in a natural way (https://www.ultraleap.com/company/news/blog/what-is-haptics/).

Why do phones have haptic feedback?

Haptic feedback in phones provides tactile feedback to user interactions. When you tap, swipe, or type on a phone screen, haptics confirm those touch interactions with slight vibrations. This tactile feedback enhances the user experience by making interactions feel more tangible and responsive. According to Boreas, haptic feedback can make user interfaces feel more natural and satisfying to use.

Haptics also help the user differentiate between virtual buttons, keys, and menus when there are no physical boundaries on an all-glass touchscreen. The subtle vibrations can guide the user, letting them know they have successfully tapped a target. This improves usability and touch accuracy. Overall, haptic feedback aims to mimic real mechanical button presses and create intuitive, immersive user experiences on phones.

What is silent/vibrate mode?

Silent or vibrate mode on a mobile phone mutes audible ringtones and notification sounds, while still allowing vibration alerts. When enabled, it disables any ringtones, incoming call sounds, message tones, alarm sounds, and other audio alerts so the phone does not make noise (Wikipedia). Vibration feedback is still active, so the phone will vibrate when calls, messages, or notifications come in. This allows the user to be alerted to incoming events, without any audible interruptions.

Silent mode is useful in situations where phone sounds would be disruptive, like meetings, classes, theaters, or other quiet areas. People often enable it at night so ringing doesn’t wake them up. Vibration ensures important alerts don’t get missed even without a sound.

Challenges of haptic feedback in silent mode

One of the main challenges with haptic feedback in silent mode is that the vibration can still make audible noise, defeating the purpose of a silent mode. As explained on an Apple support thread, “Haptics utilize the iPhone’s Taptic Engine to recreate the feel of a button press through vibration. Even in Silent mode, this vibration is still audible when in a quiet environment” [1]. The buzzing sound from the haptic vibration motor may not be suitable for places like libraries, meetings, theaters, and other quiet settings where a completely silent phone is needed.

Additionally, as noted in a Reddit discussion, the haptic feedback intensity in silent mode may be too weak in some instances: “I’ve noticed that while my phone is in silent mode, haptics for keyboard feedback and when locking the phone are MUCH weaker than when it’s not in silent mode. It makes typing feel very inconsistent.”[2]. So in some cases, the haptic intensity needs to be strong enough to provide good tactile feedback, while also being quiet enough for silent environments.

[1] https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250659034
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/16o3qnj/ios_17_has_turned_haptic_feedback_for_all_apps/

Solutions for Quieter Haptics

There are a few ways that manufacturers have provided solutions for making haptic feedback quieter in silent mode on phones:

One solution is to allow users to lower the vibration intensity in the settings. For example, on iPhones you can go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and adjust the haptic intensity slider. Lowering the intensity reduces the vibration strength and makes it quieter.

Manufacturers also provide different haptic patterns and effects that can feel just as responsive but are quieter. Apple utilizes the Taptic Engine to deliver nuanced haptic feedback. Android phones like the Pixel also have advanced haptic engines and custom vibration patterns.

Some solutions focus haptics on specific areas rather than the entire device vibrating. For example, on the iPhone keyboard haptics are localized just to the keys. This makes typing feedback feel responsive without creating device-wide vibration noise.

Apple’s Approach

Apple has focused extensively on refining haptic feedback in their iPhone devices through their Taptic Engine. The Taptic Engine is a precision haptic feedback system developed by Apple to provide subtle and nuanced haptic effects (Source). Rather than using a basic vibration motor, Apple’s Taptic Engine utilizes a linear resonant actuator that provides much more precise control over vibrations. This allows Apple to create distinct haptic patterns that simulate actions like clicking buttons or scrolling.

A key aspect of Apple’s haptic approach is emphasizing quality over quantity of feedback. Apple focuses on creating a few extremely refined haptic effects rather than overwhelming users with constant vibrations. This selective use of haptics allows each vibration to provide meaningful information to the user. The haptics are designed to mimic real physical interactions to create an intuitive user experience.

Overall, Apple’s Taptic Engine demonstrates their commitment to perfecting haptic technology and integrating advanced haptics seamlessly into the iPhone experience (Source). The precision control and nuanced effects elevate haptics from a buzzing notification to an essential part of the iOS interface.

Android Approaches

Android phone makers have taken various approaches to improve haptic feedback while keeping phones in silent mode. Some key methods include:

Vibration Motor Improvements: Many Android phones now use more advanced linear resonant actuators (LRAs) instead of traditional eccentric rotating mass (ERM) vibration motors. LRAs can provide faster, crisper haptic feedback while generating less noise.

Software Haptic Effects: Android allows developers to create customized haptic feedback patterns through the vibration API. This lets app and game developers tune haptics for different actions. For example, typing on the keyboard can have one haptic feeling while tapping a button triggers a different vibration.

User studies on haptics

Several studies have looked at user preferences and perceptions when it comes to haptic feedback on mobile devices. One study published in the journal PLoS One (Silva, 2020) evaluated user experience with different haptic technologies and text input methods. They found that participants preferred tactile feedback over kinesthetic feedback, and subtle/gentle haptic patterns were perceived as more pleasant than intense/abrupt ones.

Another study in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (González-Cañete et al., 2021) looked at haptic icon learnability on smartphones. They tested how different haptic patterns affected users’ ability to remember icon locations. The results showed that repetitive patterns led to better recall compared to single short buzzes. More intense and complex haptic feedback was also perceived as more urgent.

Overall, research indicates users prefer gentler haptic feedback, and certain patterns can enhance recall or sense of urgency. This points to the need for customizable haptic options to accommodate different user needs and situations.

Future of haptic feedback

Haptic technology has come a long way, but there are still many exciting innovations on the horizon. According to industry experts, some key areas of development for haptics include:

More realistic and nuanced haptics: As haptic actuators and algorithms continue to improve, devices will be able to recreate textures, materials, and sensations with greater realism and more nuanced effects. This will lead to more immersive experiences in VR/AR, gaming, and other applications (Ian Khan).

Haptic differentiation between alerts: Rather than just a simple buzz for every notification, future devices may use localized haptics and a variety of effects to differentiate between message types, callers, alerts, etc. This could help cut down on notification fatigue (Smithsonian).

Localized haptic zones: Devices will gain the ability to provide haptic feedback in specific areas of a surface, rather than just vibrating as a whole. This could enable more contextual and intuitive haptic experiences (MassChallenge).

Summary

In this article, we explored what haptic feedback is and why it’s an important part of the user experience for smartphones and other devices. Haptics provide tactile feedback to interactions, but the traditional vibration motors used can be loud and disruptive in silent mode.

Manufacturers like Apple and Android OEMs are innovating with more precise, focused haptic engines that can enable detailed feedback even when a phone is set to vibrate/silent. Advancements like these enhance usability while being considerate of an environment. Users benefit from haptics that immerse but don’t interrupt.

While haptic technology has come a long way, there are still opportunities to improve it and find the right balance between detailed, nuanced feedback and noise level. As engineers continue to iterate, haptics will likely become an even more seamless and refined part of our devices.