索尼在美国提交的相关专利申请显示，索尼正在寻求开发一种倾向于游戏设备并可用作通信器的触摸屏设备。

索尼的某项专利申请中展示了一款手持触摸屏：它允许直接输入和手势输入，通过一个名为“触觉像素”的系统让整个显示屏可以对压力作出反应。此时，一个显示格会出现在触摸屏中，因此不再需要物理按键或其它触摸式输入。

索尼并未在申请文件中注明该器件的功能，但表示独立的触觉像素可以用作一个主触摸屏的替换型控制机制。该专利申请文件指出，这种创新型器件将可能用在游戏机、手机、便携式媒体播放器和电邮收发器中。

其中一款专利名为Phil Harrison － 2月底之前他一直担任索尼电脑娱乐公司总裁，并在PlayStation业务的开发和增长上起到了非常关键的作用。

该专利申请文件中指出，“虽然现有的触摸屏可以接收机械式输入并提供可视性输出，却无法同时提供可视性和机械性输出。”随后，该文件描述了一款可以在接触触摸屏之后提供触摸反馈的器件。

这款器件并不仅限于一款触摸屏，而是可以用于各种应用，包括“游戏机、手机、便携式媒体播放器、电邮收发器、网络浏览器和导航设备”。

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Sony, with the previous help of the recently resigned Phil Harrison, has come up with a new touchscreen design that integrates force feedback into the unit.

2 new patents have been filed by the company in the U.S. relating to this system, which it believes has applications in gaming devices, mobile phones, media players, e-mail and web browsing gadgets or GPS units.

The force feedback element is being called “tactile pixels” and works by having a layer of pixel-like bumps under the screen. These bumps can lift up to touch the underside of the screen giving the user a physical feedback – imagine touching the screen and feeling a tap directly underneath where you finger makes contact.

The patents discuss the use of the tactile pixels as not only a force feedback for the user, but also to aid with control mechanisms. As well as giving users a new sensation while touching the screen Sony also include details of gesture based input.

Read more at EETimes.com and TechRadar.com

Matthew’s Opinion
Apart from such a system sapping the battery in any mobile device relatively quickly, it does have some interesting uses.

Games have been using force feedback for many years through the controllers players hold. With a touchscreen device such as an iPhone you could set up a similar set of features. If you are low on health make the screen pulse and if you get hit, feed that back to the player with a sharp force. There could also be some unique applications e.g. a treasure finding mini-game where you have to move your finger over the screen. The treasure is buried where the force feedback is strongest.

In more general terms, adding feedback to interface interactions would make for a better system. At the moment touchscreens are a bit lifeless apart from the visuals. Tapping the screen and receiving a reassuring hit back would probably change that experience for the better.