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FOCUS
NOVASENTIS TOUCHES
THE POTENTIAL
Novasentis and Arkema go back a long way. Why?
François Jeanneau – That’s right, we’ve been working closely together since the start of our adventure, to develop actuators until they become technically and commercially viable. We are seeing success in getting them to function thanks to the polymers with electrostrictive properties developed specially for us by Arkema. Arkema is more than a supplier, it is a key partner.
What is an actuator and how does electrostriction help it work?
F. J. – An actuator is an electronic component that makes something move. For example, it could make a smartphone vibrate in silent mode, or make a game console vibrate – it provides information or delivers sensations. When they are integrated into technologies that add the sense of touch to the user experience, we call this haptics.
In terms of electrostriction, it’s very simple. A polymer with this property moves by about 5% when an electric field is applied to it, causing it to vibrate.
What applications have been developed using this technology?
F. J. – First of all, the user interface. Game consoles, surfaces with no mechanical buttons such as smartphones and car dashboards, and virtual reality gloves. Another example is wearables, where haptics is used to transmit information, such as a heart rate detector incorporated into a sports t-shirt so that the wearer can track their heart rate as it speeds up and slows down, or an actuator, which connects to the
“With haptics, you target the step beyond;
in other words, you aim to receive information automatically without having to find it
on a touch screen.”
François Jeanneau / President of Novasentis
of haptics
The Californian startup Novasentis specializes in haptic actuator technology, which adds a subtle touch sensation to electronic devices, from smartphones to video game consoles. Arkema has played a part in this performance. François Jeanneau, President of Novasentis, explains how it works
and looks ahead to the benefits that can be expected in many applications.
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