Drukfeedback

Drukfeedback is a term used in Dutch-language technical discourse to describe feedback delivered to users through contact pressure. It aims to convey information by modulating the force exerted on the skin, rather than through vibration, audio signals, or visual cues. In practice, drukfeedback often emphasizes pressure-based cues such as sustained pressure, brief pressure bursts, or changing pressure gradients, which can be applied to different body areas depending on the device.

The concept overlaps with haptic feedback but is distinguished by its focus on pressure magnitude, duration, and spatial distribution rather than solely on tactile vibrations. Implementations can use normal (perpendicular) pressure, shear forces, or combinations thereof, delivered via an interface that makes contact with the skin. The perceptual effects depend on factors such as contact area, material stiffness, and individual sensitivity.

Technologies used to realize drukfeedback include various actuators such as linear voice coil, piezoelectric, or motor-driven devices, often arranged in arrays to create regional pressure patterns. Control systems map digital signals to pressure profiles, coordinating timing, force levels, and localization. Interfaces may employ soft elastomeric skins, textured textures, or adaptive geometries to enhance the perception of pressure.

Applications span consumer electronics, automotive interfaces, virtual and augmented reality, medical devices, and accessibility tools. Benefits include intuitive cueing, potential reduction of visual load, and improved nonverbal communication with devices. Challenges remain in energy efficiency, comfort, long-term wearability, calibration across users, and ensuring safety in high-pressure scenarios. Drukfeedback is frequently discussed alongside broader haptic feedback, with careful attention to context and user variability.