SensAble

SensAble Technologies, commonly referred to as SensAble, was a technology company focused on haptic devices and software for three-dimensional computer interaction. The company played a significant role in bringing force feedback to desktop and professional applications during the early 21st century, helping to establish haptics as a practical technology for research, design, and training.

The flagship offering was the PHANToM line of haptic devices, which provide tactile and force feedback to users exploring virtual objects. These devices were produced in several form factors to suit different environments, from research laboratories to professional studios, enabling users to feel and manipulate virtual material properties such as stiffness, texture, and resistance.

In addition to hardware, SensAble developed software platforms intended to simplify the integration of haptic feedback into applications. The OpenHaptics Toolkit, along with related development resources, provided APIs and libraries that allowed developers to incorporate force feedback into diverse software domains, including simulation, visualization, and interactive design.

Applications of SensAble’s technology spanned medical simulation and training, dental planning and surgical rehearsal, industrial design and prototyping, education, and research in human–computer interaction. The company’s work contributed to the broader adoption and refinement of haptic interfaces, influencing both academic research and commercial tools.

SensAble’s influence is noted in histories of haptic computing as an early and important driver of force-feedback technology. The company’s legacy persists in the continued use and evolution of haptic devices and software that enable users to interact with digital content through touch.