Force feedback has unique qualities to offer in a world that is slowly moving towards interfaces that become more organic and dynamic as technology gets more interwoven into the fabric of everyday life. Yet, little is known about how to design for force feedback and how its potential can be exploited for more intuitive and rich interactions that take full advantage of the haptic sense. This thesis aims to inspire further exploration of the haptic design space by contributing a design perspective on force feedback:

A Design Perspective on the Force Feedback Design Process and Tools - This thesis presents the findings from an interview study with trained interactions designers who have experience with the development of haptic user interfaces. The insights into the designers’ approach, as well as the challenges and obstacles they face, provide a new perspective on the haptic design process that has not been addressed in prior work. The insights of the analysis of the haptic design process informed the design of Feelix - a haptic authoring tool that enables sketching and refinement of haptic effects. Various features are integrated in Feelix that address challenges and obstacles that designers are facing during the process. This thesis presents the design of Feelix and the evaluation of the tool through workshops and longitudinal studies with researchers and students with different educational backgrounds from two different universities.

A Design Perspective on the Design of Force Feedback in Relation to Shape Change - The combination of the visual and the haptic modality in shape changing interfaces provides compelling opportunities for active force feedback in shape changing interfaces that yet have to be explored. The work presented here aims to inspire further exploration of the haptic design space in this direction by looking at the design of force feedback in relation to shape change, as well as providing a starting point for further exploration into the design of active force feedback through shape change.