Abstract: Improvement to haptic systems and methods whereby environmental information is provided to a user via audio output device. The audio output device may be provided on a user-manipulable portion of a haptic robotic interface, e.g. a kinesthetic interface. The haptic robotic interface at least partially recreates a virtual environment by providing haptic feedback. The audio output device may provide sound from a source in the virtual environment which may be collocated with the user-manipulable portion of the robotic interface. The audio output device may provide other environmental information on the virtual environment such as proximity information on the proximity of an obstacle. This may be used in, e.g. telemanipulation operations where proximity information may be used to provide warning prior to collision of the slave device with an obstacle.