Tactile feedback makes science news headlines

The latest science news from the University of Utah reports on an innovation that could help interaction with electronic systems in a number of settings.

While the research focused on delivering navigational instructions to motorists, it could ultimately be applied by laboratory equipment manufacturers whose products are used in noisy environments.

In the study, researchers looked at ways of delivering instructions - such as whether to turn left or right - to motorists whose listening ability was impaired due to noise distractions.

They found that, while those who were using a mobile phone were less likely to follow directions correctly, this could be overcome using a simple device.

Fashioned from an IBM ThinkPad TrackPoint cap, the solution is a simple rubber button that nudges the driver's finger when an instruction is delivered.

The study follows previous science news from the University of Utah, which last week reported the discovery of a 15-horned dinosaur related to the well-known three-horned species triceratops.