Researchers create 3D displays that can be seen and felt using optotactile surfaces — millimeter-scale pixels rise into perceptible bumps when struck by brief pulses of projected light

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have developed 3D displays that can be both seen and felt using optotactile surfaces with millimeter-scale pixels. These pixels rise into bumps when hit by projected light pulses, allowing users to locate individual pixels with fingertip precision. The display architecture involves thin surfaces with air cavities and graphite films that expand when illuminated, creating tactile pulses. The team has created arrays with over 1,500 pixels that can reproduce flowing animations and shapes with response times ranging from two to 100 milliseconds. The technology could have applications in automotive interfaces and interactive electronic texts, offering a new way to render information for exploration by both sight and touch.