The Haptics Stories That Keep Resurfacing

Hey Haptics Insider,

Welcome to the latest edition of All Things Haptics. This month is a little different.

Instead of looking at the latest news, this edition looks back at some of the stories that continued to surface through search engines like Google and Bing, along with AI search, long after they were first published.

Let’s dive in.

Apple patented improvements designed to make its Taptic Engine more resistant to shocks and impacts. It highlighted that companies continue investing in the reliability and durability of haptic hardware behind the scenes. (September 2025 via Substack)

Google refined the vibration system in the Pixel Watch 4 to improve tactile feedback. It demonstrated that meaningful advances in haptics often come from refining existing technology rather than introducing entirely new features.(September 2025 via Linkedin)

Volkswagen faced legal action related in part to its capacitive touch controls after years of criticism over usability. The story showed how interface design can have real consequences for safety, usability, and customer satisfaction. (August 2025 via Substack)

Framework experienced manufacturing delays related to its haptic trackpad. The story served as a reminder that building and producing high-quality haptic hardware remains a complex engineering challenge. (June 2026 - Substack)

Rivian introduced steering wheel-mounted haptic controls to replace many traditional knobs and buttons. The story highlighted another approach to balancing digital interfaces with tactile feedback in modern vehicle design. (March 2026 via Substack)

bHaptics introduced an updated VR glove with palm haptics and improved wrist feedback. The story reflected continued progress in wearable haptics and the push toward more immersive XR experiences. (July 2026 via Good Virtual Reality)

Daimon demonstrated robotic fingertip sensors capable of detecting and interpreting touch with much greater sensitivity. The story illustrated how advances in tactile sensing are helping robots interact with the physical world more effectively. (January 2026 via Substack)

Apple patented a system for delivering tactile feedback through earbuds while using Vision Pro. The story explored how future haptic experiences may extend beyond devices we directly touch. (Twitter/X)

Looking back, these stories weren’t connected by a single company or product category. Together they answered the questions people in our industry ask every day. What’s new? What’s launching? What’s difficult to build? Which patents might shape the future? What are researchers working on?

More than anything, they show still there’s plenty of curiosity, opportunity, and room for improvement.

Thanks for reading! All Things Haptics exists because you keep clicking and sharing. So, thank you.

If you’re working on something interesting, I’d love to hear about it. Whether it’s a product, research project, open source tool, experiment, or a story worth sharing, send it my way.

Until next time,

Ashley Huffman
AKA The Queen of Haptics 💜
Founder, All Things Haptics
Strategic Partnerships, TITAN Haptics
Co-Founder, Haptics Club Podcast
Member, Haptics Industry Forum
Find me on LinkedIn, X and Bsky