Bits and pieces of October 2011

ShapeShift, electro-active polymer (EAP) explorations, link
ShapeShift is an experiment in future possibilities of architectural materialization. This project explores the potential application of electro-active polymer (EAP) at an architectural scale. EAP offers a new relationship to built space through its unique combination of qualities. It is an ultra-lightweight, flexible material with the ability to change shape without the need for mechanical actuators. As a collaboration between the chair for Computer Aided Architectural Design (ETHZ) and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), ShapeShift bridges gaps between advanced techniques in architectural design/fabrication and material science as well as pushing academic research towards real world applications.

Surface Transducer available from Sparkfun, link

Haptics Technologies: Bringing Touch to Multimedia, book, link
Series: Springer Series on Touch and Haptic Systems, El Saddik, A., Orozco, M., Eid, M., Cha, J. 1st Edition., 2011, XV, 218 p. 87 illus.

This book is different from any other book that has looked at haptics. The authors treat haptics as a new medium rather than just a domain within one of the above areas. They describe human haptic perception and interfaces and present fundamentals in haptic rendering and modeling in virtual environments. Diverse software architectures for standalone and networked haptic systems are explained, and the authors demonstrate the vast application spectrum of this emerging technology along with its accompanying trends. The primary objective is to provide a comprehensive overview and a practical understanding of haptic technologies. An appreciation of the close relationship between the wide range of disciplines that constitute a haptic system is a key principle towards being able to build successful collaborative haptic environments.

What is Haptics? from Texas Instruments (TI), part 1, part 2
The DRV8662EVM Evaluation Module (EVM) is a fully-differential, high-voltage piezo actuator driver that provides quick response time for single layer and multi-layer piezo actuators. The DRV8662 drives piezo loads up to 200V differentially using an adjustable integrated boost converter. The evaluation module contains the DRV8662 piezo haptics driver, a programmable MSP430, and passive components for complete evaluation.Evaluation board available for 99 USD at http://www.ti.com/drv8662evm-pr

iOS 5.0 Custom Vibration Alert
iOS 5 Features: Vibration Patterns. Haptics (although quite basic) slowly making their way into mainstream products!