The Benefits of Tactile Feedback

在设计电子设备时，您可能会考虑是否使用触觉、电阻或电容式触摸技术。尽管触摸屏大受欢迎，但许多用户仍然偏爱物理按键。虽然越来越多的公司在其产品中采用电阻式或电容式触摸技术，但切勿忽视触觉反馈的诸多优点。

When designing an electronic device, you may be considering whether or not to use tactile, resistive, or capacitive touch technologies. Despite the popularity of touchscreens, many users still prefer physical buttons. While more and more companies are implementing resistive or capacitive touch into their products, it’s essential not to overlook the many benefits of tactile feedback.

What is Tactile Feedback?

那么，什么是触觉反馈？触觉反馈将电子设备的物理反应传递给用户。使用触觉反馈的设备会产生某种感觉，如振动或咔嗒声。

即使你不熟悉这种技术，你也可能曾经使用过带有触觉反馈的设备。使用触觉触摸技术的常见设备包括咖啡机、方向盘控制器、视频游戏控制器和许多其他设备。

触觉反馈的操作方式因设备而异。许多此类设备都使用一个压在金属圆顶上的致动器来关闭或打开电路。在这个例子中，当你按下和松开按钮时，你会感觉到 "啪 "的一声。致动器和金属圆顶共同产生了触感。

So, what is tactile feedback? Tactile feedback transmits a physical response from an electronic device to a user. Devices that use tactile feedback employ some kind of sensation, such as a vibration or audible click.

Even if you’re unfamiliar with this technology, you have likely used a device with tactile feedback before. Common examples of devices that use tactile touch technology include coffee makers, steering wheel controls, video game controllers, and many other devices.

Tactile feedback operates differently depending on the device. Many of these devices use an actuator that presses against a metal dome, closing or opening an electrical circuit. In this example, you will feel a snap as you press and release the button. The actuator, together with the metal dome, creates the tactile feel.

Benefits of Tactile Touch

触觉反馈有很多好处，包括改善用户体验和准确性。触觉反馈还能确保与设备进行安全的交互，而触摸屏并非总能做到这一点。触摸屏界面（如汽车中的触摸屏界面）不利于帮助您将视线集中在道路上。主要是因为它们缺乏触觉反馈，而触觉反馈往往是 "眼睛离开 "肌肉记忆所必需的。物理按钮还能为用户提供一个可靠的位置，让他们在与输入设备交互之前将手或手指放在那里。例如，这可以稳定用户的手，使其不受车辆或飞机振动的影响。

Tactile feedback has many benefits, including improving user experience and accuracy. Tactile feedback can also ensure safe interactions with devices, something touchscreens can’t always achieve. Touchscreen interfaces, like those in vehicles, are not conducive to helping you keep your eyes on the road. Mainly because they lack haptic feedback, which is often necessary for “eyes-off” muscle-memory. Physical buttons also provide a reliable place for the user to place their hand or finger before interacting with the input device. This stabilizes the user’s hand from the vibrations of the vehicle or aircraft, for example.

通过物理按钮，驾驶员可以轻松地将视线集中在路面上。

Drivers can easily keep their eyes on the road with physical buttons.

与触摸屏界面相比，无需将视线从道路上移开即可与按钮互动，大大提高了安全性。由此可见，触摸屏并不总能经受住日常驾驶的考验。一些汽车制造商甚至以不安全或不直观为由放弃了触摸屏控制。

除颤器就是触觉反馈如何确保准确性的一个很好的例子。除颤器必须在需要时工作。不仅如此，用户还需要确定自己按下了按钮。如果在这类设备中没有收到触觉反馈，就说明没有按下按钮。

触觉元件非常适合户外使用或极端环境条件。枪用瞄准镜就是一个必须能承受水和灰尘等恶劣环境的应用实例。您可能需要戴着手套或类似的限制性织物使用这些设备，而不会出现故障。但是，目前大多数触摸屏技术都需要与手指进行物理接触。对于必须在极端天气或情况下工作的瞄准镜等产品来说，触控元件是一种更可行的解决方案。

The interaction with the button without the need to look away from the road is possible, significantly improving safety over touchscreen interfaces. This shows that touchscreens cannot always withstand everyday driving. Some automotive manufacturers are even ditching touchscreen controls for not being safe or intuitive.

A good example of how tactile feedback ensures accuracy is with a defibrillator. Defibrillators must work when needed. And not only that, but the user needs to be sure that they pressed the button. If you do not receive tactile feedback in devices like this, you know it did not register your action.

Tactile elements are perfect for outdoor use or extreme environmental conditions. Gun scopes are an example of an application that must withstand harsh environments like water and dust. You may need to use these devices with gloves or similar restrictive fabrics without failures. But, most current touchscreen technology requires physical contact with your finger. Tactile elements are a more feasible solution for products like scopes that must work in extreme weather or situations.

Tactile Feedback and Metal Dome Switches / 触觉反馈和金属圆顶开关

金属圆顶以提供清晰的触感反馈而著称。使用金属圆顶提供触感的一个好处是，你可以轻松定制金属圆顶，以满足你的反馈要求。例如，高力度的金属圆顶意味着用户较难按压，并能提供强烈的触感。相比之下，圆形金属圆顶更容易按压，因此触感更柔和。

致动器也会极大地影响开关的触感，根据所选致动器的不同，可以增加或减少触感反馈。下图中的 GPS 设备就是一个很好的例子，它使用硅致动器来提供清脆的触感和轻微的消音效果。

Metal domes are known for providing crisp tactile feedback. A benefit of using metal domes to provide a tactile feel is that you can easily customize them to meet your feedback requirements. For example, a metal dome with a high force means it is harder for the user to press and provides a strong tactile feel. In comparison, round metal domes are easier to press and therefore have a softer tactile feel.

Actuators can also significantly affect a switch’s feel, and depending on the one you select, you can increase or decrease the tactile feedback. An example of this would be a GPS device, like the one in the image below, which uses silicon actuators to provide a crisp tactile feel with slightly deadened acoustics.

这款 GPS 设备使用硅致动器和金属圆顶开关，为用户提供清脆的咔嗒声。

This GPS unit uses silicon actuators and metal dome switches to provide users with a crisp click.

在电子设备中加入触觉反馈，可以大大改善用户体验，并在触摸屏不可行或存在安全隐患的情况下提供关键反馈。

Incorporating tactile feedback into your electronic devices can significantly improve your user experience and provide critical feedback when touchscreens may not be feasible or cause safety concerns.

参考：

https://www.snaptron.com/2021/02/the-benefits-of-tactile-feedback/