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Fühlbar

Fühlbar is a German term used to describe something that can be perceived through touch or felt as a tangible quality. In design, product development, and human–computer interaction, the word denotes the materiality and tactile experience of an object or interface—the surface texture, weight, rigidity, and overall haptic feedback that contribute to usability and perceived quality.

Etymology and usage: The word is formed from führen? No, from fühlen (“to feel”) and bar (“able

Applications in design and HCI: In haptics research and practice, Fühlbar refers to the subjective experience

Cultural and theoretical contexts: The concept intersects with aesthetics, phenomenology, and embodied cognition, highlighting how touch

See also: Haptics, Tactile perception, Materiality, Embodied cognition.

to
be”).
It
is
commonly
encountered
in
German
discourse
on
perception,
design,
and
materiality,
where
it
signals
the
experiential
dimension
of
objects
beyond
visual
appearance
alone.
of
tactile
stimuli
produced
by
actuators,
textures,
or
force
feedback.
In
product
design,
it
describes
how
materials
and
finishes
feel
to
users,
influencing
judgments
about
durability,
quality,
and
satisfaction.
In
user
experience
contexts,
it
is
used
to
emphasize
the
importance
of
tactile
affordances
and
the
multisensory
character
of
interaction.
and
somatic
sensation
contribute
to
the
understanding
and
appreciation
of
objects,
spaces,
and
media.