New tech ditches rumble for electric shocks

Future smartphones could ditch traditional rumble tech in favour of a new system built around electric shocks.

NewScientist reports that the current build in this new technology – developed at the Hasso Plattner Institute in Germany – uses two small wired electrodes attached to a user’s forearms that stimulate nerves and force muscles to contract.

The effect is painless but tricks the user into feeling as if a force is being exerted on the device. And because no motors are involved it will be easy to integrate the equipment into small devices such as smartphones or joypads. It also consumes less power.

Early test subjects felt the sensation to be preferable to rumble.

PS4 launch feature? Perhaps not, but its scope in the future is obvious.