When we interact with devices such as smartphones, video game controllers and virtual reality headsets, we often sense things such as vibrations or movement. This is what is known as haptic feedback. Ever wondered how these gadgets know how hard you press a button or how much force you apply?
A thing that helps with this is called a force sensing resistor. Force sensing resistors are unique sensors that know how much pressure is being applied to them. It is as if they are small detectives who can tell when you are pushing, squeezing or tapping a device.
Why are Force Sensing resistors important?
Force sensing resistors are extremely significant in the field of the haptic feedback. Suppose one of those pixels is under your control in a video game. When you press a button for your character to jump, you’re looking for a real sensation that feels like jumping.
Force sensing resistors assist with this by measuring the exact amount of force you are exerting. This data helps to create vibrations or movement that satisfies the player's desire to play the game. We couldn't do it — we wouldn't be able to make haptic feedback feel as good or as fun — without force sensing resistors.
How Do They Work in Virtual Reality?
Force sensing resistors(VR) make virtual reality (VR) better. The idea is that when you put on a VR headset and find yourself in a virtual world, that world should feel real, and you should be able to (virtually) reach out and touch the stuff around you.
Those force sensing resistors help out by letting you actually feel things in the virtual world. If, for instance, you reach out to grasp something in a virtual environment, the force sensing resistors feel where your hand is moving and respond, fooling you into believing you are literally touching that object.
What About Preciseness and Accuracy?
One more feature of force sensing resistor is that they contribute to precision and accuracy in touch feedback. What touch feedback is coming to mean is how we feel and interact with devices.
With force sensing resistors, companies can ensure that their users will have a much better touch experience. Whether you are browsing your favourite site on your phone or drawing on a tablet, force sensing resistors work to make your experience quicker and more intuitive.
Real-world Sensations in Games
Ever played a game where you could feel the rumble of a car engine in your hand? This is enabled by force sensors in the haptic devices.
Recognizing the amount of pressure or movement you apply, force sensitive resistor can generate vibrations and motions to bring more excitement to gaming Whether you’re driving a virtual car or shooting a virtual weapon, force sensing resistors let you feel like you’re there, in the action.
Enhancement of interaction with touch devices
Force sensing resistors are also behind the magic of touch devices like smartphones and tablets, which are designed to fit snugly in your hand, but not fall through it, and which make it easy for you to interact with them. These sensors can sense gestures like swiping, tapping and pinching, which let you navigate your apps and displays.
As you touch the screen, pressed with different pressure, FSRs sense your pressing strength and help to make easier and better interaction. In other words, you can zoom in on photos, type messages, play games and to so with silky smooth touch control.
