Importance

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Abstract

Programmable deformable surfaces can use smartgels that respond to external stimuli by changing in stiffness, volume, and/or transparency or color. A device can include a smartgel in one or more cells of a tactile layer, such as a layer of material positioned over a display device visible through the layer. Portions of the tactile layer can be subjected to one or more stimuli, such a change in temperature that causes areas of smartgel to deform, to provide haptic feedback. For example, wires can be embedded in the tactile layer and/or between the tactile layer and the display and by controlling current passing through the wires, portions of the tactile layer can be subjected to changes in temperature, such as to raise/lower portions of the tactile layer at a location corresponding to an object in a graphical user interface when a touch occurs at or near the location.

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First Claim