A little fold-up joystick brings haptics to portable devices

The tactile joystick developed by startup Foldaway Haptics brings the sense of touch to mobile devices, drones and, in a smaller version, to virtual reality controls. This pocket-sized device, which can be unfolded in an instant, is about to hit the market. Next week it will be showcased at the Hannover Messe, the world's largest trade fair for industrial technology. The tactile joystick developed by EPFL spin-off Foldaway Haptics is not much larger than a credit card and can be set up and put away in the blink of an eye. This low-power device plugs directly into a computer or mobile phone to add another dimension to the applications they run. The force feedback lets users feel the texture, stiffness and shape of virtual objects. This little robot joystick, which clearly punches above its weight, has already been presented at a number of specialized trade shows.