Haptic, from the Greek αφη (Haphe), means “pertaining to the sense of touch” (Miriam-Webster’s Online dictionary), and haptic technology refers to technology that interfaces with the user via applied tactile and/or force feedback, i.e. vibrations and/or motions. This mechanical stimulation is used to create a sense of touching a virtual object. Haptic devices are typically classified into Tactile Feedback devices and/or Force Feedback devices (Laycock & Day, 2003). Tactile feedback denotes the devices ability to interact with a user at a sensory level, and often encompasses being able to actually feel a virtual surface. Additionally, force feedback is when the device applies literal forces on the user. Common usage of the term Haptic Feedback encompasses these two ideas, and for the following proposed study, the use of the word haptic(s) will denote haptic feedback. Through their ability to allow interaction with virtual objects, haptics have begun to play a critical role in many fields of study.

Several examples of successful use of haptics have been demonstrated in the areas of the arts, design, entertainment, and medicine (Laycock & Day, 2003); however, the field of education has been as yet untapped. (Please note: success is being defined in these instances as the ability of the haptic device to improve the immersive experience by augmenting the sense of presence for the user.) The main barriers for haptic usage historically have been computing power and the high price of haptic devices, which have limited/prevented the application of haptics in fields that are traditionally economically bounded such as education. However, in recent years the prices of haptic devices have come down to a degree where they are no longer cost prohibitive. For example, Novint Technologies has produced a mass-market haptic device called the Falcon that runs approximately 239 US dollars. This is considerably better than the tens of thousands of dollars that the models that preceded the Falcon have cost. Thus, it is now a financially viable option within the field of public education.