Reconfigurable Tactile Micro-Elements: Electromagnetic Actuation and Sensing for Dynamic ...
summary
A working prototype called shiftIO shows small magnetized tactile modules that micro-step around a device edge using a flexible PCB of coils and an Arduino microcontroller over Bluetooth, plus a second prototype using switchable permanent magnets that drops idle power by holding position without current. Implementations support buttons, sliders, tactile notifications and a smartwatch band demo, but lateral force is low, nearby elements need ~15 mm separation, and long operation risks heating and demagnetization; sensing is limited to a soft potentiometer.
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