InterDigital Inc. has launched a new initiative by establishing a Haptic Excellence Center in collaboration with gaming hardware company Razer. This center, located in Wilmington, DE, aims to foster research, development, and education in the realm of haptic technology, which provides tactile feedback to enhance media experiences.
The primary focus of the Haptic Excellence Center will be on advancing the innovation and implementation of haptic technology. It seeks to integrate touch-based feedback with audio and video, enhancing user engagement across various consumer devices. According to a white paper co-authored by Futuresource and InterDigital, approximately 4.1 billion consumer devices were equipped with haptic technology by the end of 2024. Projections indicate that 53% of such devices will incorporate haptic features by 2028.
Development of Haptic Streaming Platform
InterDigital plans to develop a haptic streaming platform through this initiative. This platform is designed to facilitate the creation, encoding, synchronization, and delivery of haptic data alongside audio and video content. The center will also collaborate with universities to enhance research and education regarding haptic systems and applications.
Rajesh Pankaj, Chief Technology Officer at InterDigital, emphasized that the center is intended to bridge the gap between industry and academia. This collaboration aims to promote experimentation and deepen understanding of haptic technologies.
Eric Vezzoli, Director of Technology at Razer, added that the partnership aims to advance an open haptics framework. This research will enable broader deployment of haptic technology in various applications, potentially transforming how users interact with digital content.
InterDigital, headquartered in Wilmington, specializes in developing wireless and video technologies utilized in consumer devices and networks. The establishment of the Haptic Excellence Center signifies a significant step forward in the evolution of interactive media experiences, highlighting the growing importance of touch feedback in digital environments.
