UltraHaptics, an emerging technology that allows you to operate touch screens without touching them

The University of Bristol is researching a system, called UltraHaptics, that allows you to interact with a touch screen, through high frequency sounds, without it being necessary to apply any type of pressure on it.

Researchers from the University of Bristol (United Kingdom) have developed a system, called UltraHaptics, with which it is possible to have tactile sensations on an interactive screen without having to put your hands on the display.

UltraHaptics works based on high-frequency sound emitters that, when properly coordinated, cause a sensation on the skin that is capable of offering a haptic response to operate the computer without touching it.. The user can see what their hands are doing while interacting with a touch screen and feel it in their fingers. The term haptic refers to non-verbal communication through touch.. In this case, the transmission of information about interaction with a computer, a screen or any other interactive surface.

Ultrasound waves are projected onto the screen, They move through the air and focus on a specific point creating a pressure difference. This is called acoustic radiation pressure.. Next, The device creates a focal point by activating ultrasound transducers with specific phase delays so that all sound waves reach the point simultaneously.

This technology is still in its infancy but researchers are developing the ideas., including gestures in mid-flight, and layers of tactile information hover over the screens.