Haptically Enabled User Interface

Abstract

A device has a user interface that generates a haptic effect in response to user inputs or gestures. In one embodiment, the device receives an indication that the user is scrolling through a list of elements and an indication that an element is selected. The device determines the scroll rate and generates a haptic effect that has a magnitude that is based on the scroll rate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory on which instructions executable by the processor are stored to cause the processor to:
 store a gesture on the device, wherein the gesture comprises a user interaction associated with a directional motion on a touchscreen; and 
 cause a dynamic haptic effect that simulates the gesture to be output, wherein the dynamic haptic effect is applied to different individual portions of the touchscreen in series to simulate the directional motion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein causing the dynamic haptic effect to be output comprises causing a haptic effect that changes amplitude to simulate a varied pressure portion of the gesture to be output, wherein the varied pressure portion includes a varied finger pressure data pattern associated with the gesture. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to unlock the device based on the gesture. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to initiate a task based on the gesture. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the gesture comprises at least one of a swirl pattern, a swipe pattern, or a tap pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the directional motion of the gesture comprises a circular motion. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to cause the dynamic haptic effect to be output by:
 causing a first haptic effect to be output at a first portion of the touchscreen at a first time; and   causing a second haptic effect to be output at a second portion of the touchscreen at a second time,   wherein the second haptic effect is different from the first haptic effect, the first portion is different from the second portion, and the first time is different from the second time.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 receive an input on the touchscreen;   compare the input on the touchscreen to the stored gesture; and   cause the dynamic haptic effect to be output to confirm that the input matches the stored gesture.   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by a processor of a device is configured to cause the processor to:
 store a gesture on the device, wherein the gesture comprises a user interaction associated with a directional motion on a touchscreen; and   cause a dynamic haptic effect that simulates the gesture to be output, wherein the dynamic haptic effect is applied to different individual portions of the touchscreen in series to simulate the directional motion.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein causing the dynamic haptic effect to be output comprises causing a haptic effect that changes amplitude to simulate a varied pressure portion of the gesture to be output, wherein the varied pressure portion includes a varied finger pressure data pattern associated with the gesture. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to unlock the device based on the gesture. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to initiate a task based on the gesture. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the gesture comprises at least one of a swirl pattern, a swipe pattern, or a tap pattern. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the directional motion of the gesture comprises a circular motion. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to cause the dynamic haptic effect to be output by:
 causing a first haptic effect to be output at a first portion of the touchscreen at a first time; and   causing a second haptic effect to be output at a second portion of the touchscreen at a second time,   wherein the second haptic effect is different from the first haptic effect, the first portion is different from the second portion, and the first time is different from the second time.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 receive an input on the touchscreen;   compare the input on the touchscreen to the stored gesture; and   cause the dynamic haptic effect to be output to confirm that the input matches the stored gesture.