3D Touch
| Brand | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| First released | September 9, 2014 |
| Website | www |
Force Touch is a technology developed by Apple Inc. that enables trackpads and touchscreens to distinguish between different levels of force being applied to their surfaces. First unveiled on September 9, 2014 during the Apple Watch conference, Force Touch is a pressure sensitive multi-touch technology. The technology is designed to add another method of input to Apple's devices. Beginning with the Apple Watch, Force Touch has been introduced to many of the products within Apple's lineup including Retina MacBook, MacBook Pro, Magic Trackpad 2, and flagship iPhone models like the iPhone 6S, and iPhone 7.
Force Touch is operated with many components. On Apple Watch, a series of electrodes line the curvature of the screen. When a press is detected, these electrodes determine the pressure applied. A similar process occurs in trackpad applications of the technology (such as in the MacBook Pro and Magic Trackpad 2), although sensory information is determined by a series of four sensors that align with the corners of the trackpad. The feedback is then relayed to the "Taptic Engine", an electromagnetic linear actuator. Unlike typical motors, the linear actuator does not rotate, but oscillates back and forth. The Taptic Engine produced immediate feedback without the need to offset the balance of mass. The feedback provided is called haptic feedback, a very precise vibration that relays information back to the user with precision.
Extending past the multi-touch abilities of a touchscreen, Force Touch has a number of operations in Apple's software and hardware. Information such as reminders and dates can be pressed down with force to expand them so users can perform more actions more quickly, and applications developed for Apple's software can take advantage of Force Touch by implementing their own functions where Force Touch can be used. On the MacBook with Retina Display and the 2015 Macbook Pro, users can increase the rate of fast forward of videos simply by exerting a larger pressure on the Force Touch trackpad.
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