This article was first published in the January 2016 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Tom Carter creates sounds you can touch. As the co-founder of Bristol-based Ultrahaptics, Carter has developed a technology that uses arrays of speakers, similar to a car's parking sensors, to produce ultrasounds that create tactile sensations. These sonic objects can be "touched" from up to two metres away.
Carter came up with the idea in 2011 while studying computer science at the University of Bristol. "The idea of touching something that's not there had never been done in a way that was small and fast enough to give a good experience," he says.
The company's goal is not to create products, but rather to provide its technology to other industries. Carter underlines, for instance, how Ultrahaptics could add tactile kicks to virtual-reality gaming. He also says haptics might make possible appliances operated with ultrasound-sculpted buttons or switches. "Imagine a toaster you can control by making a gesture near it, and getting a lever-like sensation on your fingertips," he says. "According to what the tracker sees, we can update what the ultrasound makes you feel."
Jaguar is one company quick to spot its potential. In September 2015, it struck a partnership with Ultrahaptics to design a touchless dashboard for car drivers to control. Companies in other sectors -- from consumer electronics to computing and gaming -- have also been in touch. "People want to be the first in their field to have the technology," says Carter.
The idea might sound far-fetched, but if you ask Carter, it's going to arrive sooner than you'd expect. "We are trying to get a product to market in a short time," he says. "Hopefully, within two years, there'll be something that you can buy and control without touching."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
