Abstract: A feedback-enhancing film includes: an elastic layer comprising a first polymer exhibiting optical transparency and elasticity; and an interface layer arranged across an upper surface of the elastic layer comprising a second polymer exhibiting optical transparency, impact resistance, UV resistance, and smoothness to touch. Additionally, the interface layer and the elastic layer mutually deform to resist transverse movement of a stylus tip across the interface layer in response to an application of writing force to the interface layer via the stylus tip. The film can also comprise a system including: the film; a stylus including a stylus tip; and a touch-sensitive screen.

Abstract: A feedback-enhancing film includes: an elastic layer comprising a first polymer exhibiting optical transparency and elasticity; and an interface layer arranged across an upper surface of the elastic layer comprising a second polymer exhibiting optical transparency, impact resistance, UV resistance, and smoothness to touch. Additionally, the interface layer and the elastic layer mutually deform to resist transverse movement of a stylus tip across the interface layer in response to an application of writing force to the interface layer via the stylus tip. The film can also comprise a system including: the film; a stylus including a stylus tip; and a touch-sensitive screen.

Abstract: One variation of tactile interface includes: a flexible substrate configured to deform to a first offset in response to application of a deflecting force on the flexible substrate; a tactile layer defining a tactile surface and configured to deform to a second offset in response to application of the deflecting force on the tactile surface; and a tie layer configured to retain the tactile layer against the substrate, the tie layer defining a first surface contacting the flexible substrate and a second surface contacting the tactile layer, the first surface of the tie layer configured to stretch by the first offset to maintain contact with the substrate and the second surface of the tie layer configured to stretch by the second offset to maintain contact with the tactile layer.

Abstract: One variation of tactile interface includes: a flexible substrate configured to deform to a first offset in response to application of a deflecting force on the flexible substrate; a tactile layer defining a tactile surface and configured to deform to a second offset in response to application of the deflecting force on the tactile surface; and a tie layer configured to retain the tactile layer against the substrate, the tie layer defining a first surface contacting the flexible substrate and a second surface contacting the tactile layer, the first surface of the tie layer configured to stretch by the first offset to maintain contact with the substrate and the second surface of the tie layer configured to stretch by the second offset to maintain contact with the tactile layer.

Abstract: A feedback-enhancing film includes: an elastic layer comprising a first polymer exhibiting optical transparency and elasticity; and an interface layer arranged across an upper surface of the elastic layer comprising a second polymer exhibiting optical transparency, impact resistance, UV resistance, and smoothness to touch. Additionally, the interface layer and the elastic layer mutually deform to resist transverse movement of a stylus tip across the interface layer in response to an application of writing force to the interface layer via the stylus tip. The film can also comprise a system including: the film; a stylus including a stylus tip; and a touch-sensitive screen.

Abstract: One variation of a system for detecting inputs into a computing device includes an elastic film: configured to install over a capacitive touch sensor including a rigid substrate; characterized by a dielectric constant greater than 3.0; defining a touch sensor surface across a nominal plane offset from the rigid substrate; configured to locally deform inwardly from the nominal plane toward the rigid substrate responsive to an input applied to the touch sensor surface; configured to reduce strength of an electric field projected by the capacitance touch sensor across the nominal plane; configured to decrease capacitance between local pairs of electrodes in the capacitive touch sensor as a function of local depression of the touch sensor surface toward the rigid substrate proximal the particular sense electrode; and configured to locally return the touch sensor surface to the nominal plane responsive to release of the local input from the touch sensor surface.

Abstract: One variation of tactile interface includes: a flexible substrate configured to deform to a first offset in response to application of a deflecting force on the flexible substrate; a tactile layer defining a tactile surface and configured to deform to a second offset in response to application of the deflecting force on the tactile surface; and a tie layer configured to retain the tactile layer against the substrate, the tie layer defining a first surface contacting the flexible substrate and a second surface contacting the tactile layer, the first surface of the tie layer configured to stretch by the first offset to maintain contact with the substrate and the second surface of the tie layer configured to stretch by the second offset to maintain contact with the tactile layer.

Abstract: One variation of a dynamic tactile interface for a computing device includes: a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region; a substrate including a transparent base material exhibiting a first optical dispersion characteristic, coupled to the tactile layer at the peripheral region, defining a fluid conduit adjacent the peripheral region and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit; a volume of transparent fluid contained within the fluid channel and the fluid conduit and exhibiting a second optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic; a volume of particulate contained within the transparent base material of the substrate, biased around the fluid conduit, and exhibiting a third optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic; and a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting i

Abstract: One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes: a tactile layer including a deformable region and a peripheral region adjacent the deformable region; a substrate coupled to the tactile layer, the substrate defining fluid channel and cooperating with the deformable region to define a variable volume fluidly coupled to the fluid channel; a displacement device coupled to the bladder, displacing fluid into the variable volume to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting, and displacing fluid out of the variable volume to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting to the retracted setting, the displacement device defining a equilibrium range of fluid pressures within the fluid channel; a reservoir fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and supporting a reserve volume of fluid; and a valve selectively controlling transfer of fluid from the reservoir to the fluid channel.

Abstract: A method for actuating a tactile interface layer of a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of deforming a deformable region of the surface into a formation tactilely distinguishable from the surface, detecting a force from the user on a deformed deformable region, interpreting the force as a command for the deformable region, and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command.

Abstract: One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region; a substrate coupled to the peripheral region, a fluid conduit adjacent the deformable region, a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, and a via fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and passing through the back surface; a bladder fluidly coupled to the via and the substrate; a structure adjacent a first side of the bladder; and a platen adjacent a second side of the bladder opposite the first side and compressing the bladder against the structure substantially perpendicular the longitudinal axis of the bladder and substantially parallel the substrate to displace fluid from the bladder and into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting.

Abstract: One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes: a substrate including a first transparent material and defining an attachment surface, an open channel opposite the attachment surface, and a fluid conduit intersecting the open channel and passing through the attachment surface; a tactile layer including a second transparent material and defining a tactile surface, a peripheral region bonded to the attachment surface opposite the tactile surface, and a deformable region adjacent the fluid conduit and disconnected from the attachment surface; a closing panel bonded to the substrate opposite the attachment surface and enclosing the open channel to define a fluid channel; a working fluid; and a displacement device configured to displace the working fluid into the fluid channel and through the fluid conduit to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting.

Abstract: A dynamic tactile interface includes a tactile layer including a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region, the deformable region operable between an expanded setting and a retracted setting; a substrate coupled to the peripheral region and defining a fluid conduit and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, the fluid conduit adjacent the deformable region; and a spring element coupled to the substrate between the tactile layer and the substrate, arranged substantially over the fluid conduit, and operable in a first distended position and a second distended position, the spring element at a local minimum of potential energy in the expanded setting and in the first distended position and at a second potential energy greater than the local minimum of potential energy between the first distended position and the second distended position, the spring element defining a nonlinear displacement response to an input displacing the deformable region in the expanded setting

Abstract: A user interface system of one embodiment includes a layer defining a surface; a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity; a displacement coupled to the cavity that expands the cavity, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface; and a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface. The layer and the substrate are connected at an attachment point, and the location of the attachment point relative to the layer, substrate, and cavity at least partially defines the shape of the deformed particular region of the surface.

Abstract: A tactile interface for a computing device includes a tactile layer defining a primary guide and a secondary guide. The primary guide is tactilely distinguishable from an adjacent peripheral region and arranged adjacent a first input region of a touch-sensitive surface. The secondary guide is tactilely distinguishable from the adjacent peripheral region, arranged adjacent a second input region of the touch-sensitive surface, and defines a peripheral boundary of a range of motion of a finger moving between the primary guide and the secondary guide. The first input region is independent from the primary guide, the second input region independent from the secondary guide.

Abstract: One variation of a method for remotely sharing touch includes: receiving a location of a touch input on a surface of a first computing device; receiving an image related to the touch input; displaying the image on a display of a second computing device, the second computing device comprising a dynamic tactile layer arranged over the display and defining a set of deformable regions, each deformable region in the set of deformable region configured to expand from a retracted setting into an expanded setting; and transitioning a particular deformable region in the set of deformable regions from the retracted setting into the expanded setting, the particular deformable region defined within the dynamic tactile layer at a position corresponding to the location of the touch input.

Abstract: A stylus feedback-enhancing film for a touchscreen that includes an optically clear stylus interface layer and an optically clear substrate layer, the substrate layer having a second hardness lesser than the first hardness and a second thickness greater than the first thickness; wherein the substrate layer is coupled to the stylus interface layer and the touchscreen; wherein the stylus-feedback enhancing film resists lateral motion of the stylus across the touchscreen with a first frictional force when the stylus is slid across the touchscreen with no applied force and with a second frictional force, greater than the first frictional force, when the stylus is slid across the touchscreen with an applied force consistent with human writing; wherein the first frictional force is dominated by the adhesive effect and the second frictional force is dominated by the plowing effect.

Abstract: A system that detects and transitions a configuration of a dynamic tactile interface coupled to a computing device incorporating a touchscreen. The dynamic tactile interface includes a tactile layer and a substrate, wherein the tactile layer defines a tactile surface, a deformable region, and a first region adjacent the deformable region and coupled to the substrate opposite the tactile surface. A variable volume fluidly coupled to a fluid channel and a displacement device that transitions the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting in response to actuation of an input actuator coupled to the displacement device. A sensor detects a change in a position of the input actuator. In response to the change in the position, the configuration of the deformable regions of the dynamic tactile interface is correlated to a rendered graphical user interface on the touchscreen.

Abstract: A device having a dynamic tactile interface communicates with an external electronic device to provide tactile output (e.g., tactile display) based on communication with the external electronic device. Data is tactilely displayed on a computing device. Data is received from an external electronic device. The data is converted into a tangible data structure and a portion of a dynamic tactile layer is deformed corresponding to the tangible data structure. The dynamic tactile layer is arranged over a surface of the computing device and includes a set of deformable regions, wherein each deformable region deforms into an elevated tactile formation. The portion of the dynamic tactile layer includes a subset of deformable regions in the set of deformable regions.

Abstract: A dynamic tactile interface includes: a substrate including a first transparent material and defining an attachment surface, an open channel opposite the attachment surface, and a fluid conduit intersecting the open channel and passing through the attachment surface; a tactile layer including a second transparent material and defining a tactile surface, a peripheral region bonded to the attachment surface opposite the tactile surface, and a deformable region adjacent the fluid conduit and disconnected from the attachment surface; a closing panel bonded to the substrate opposite the attachment surface and enclosing the open channel to define a fluid channel; a working fluid; and a displacement device configured to displace the working fluid into the fluid channel and through the fluid conduit to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting.