Systems and Methods for Shape Input and Output for a Haptically-Enabled Deformable Surface

A computing device comprising:

• a deformable housing;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory device comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
• detect that the computing device has a particular spatial positioning relative to a remote object based on a first sensor signal from a position sensor;
• determine that the computing device is to interact with the remote object based on detecting that the computing device has the particular spatial positioning relative to the remote object;
• detect a deformation in the deformable housing based on a second sensor signal from a deformation sensor;
• interact with the remote object in a particular manner that is dependent on the deformation detected in the deformable housing;
• and
• transmit a haptic signal to a haptic output device, the haptic signal being configured to cause the haptic output device to output a haptic effect associated with the interaction between the computing device and the remote object.

A method comprising:

• detecting, by a processor of a computing device, that the computing device has a particular spatial positioning relative to a remote object based on a first sensor signal from a position sensor;
• determining, by the processor, that the computing device is to interact with the remote object based on detecting that the computing device has the particular spatial positioning relative to the remote object;
• detecting, by the processor, a deformation in a deformable housing of the computing device based on a second sensor signal from a deformation sensor;
• interacting, by the processor, with the remote object in a particular manner that is dependent on the deformation detected in the deformable housing;
• and
• generating, by the processor, a haptic effect associated with the interaction between the computing device and the remote object by transmitting a haptic signal to a haptic output device.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code that is executable by a processor of a computing device for causing the processor to:

• detect that the computing device has a particular spatial positioning relative to a remote object based on a first sensor signal from a position sensor;
• determine that the computing device is to interact with the remote object based on detecting that the computing device has the particular spatial positioning relative to the remote object;
• detect a deformation in a deformable housing of the computing device based on a second sensor signal from a deformation sensor;
• interact with the remote object in a particular manner that is dependent on the deformation detected in the deformable housing;
• and
• transmit a haptic signal to a haptic output device, the haptic signal being configured to cause the haptic output device to output a haptic effect associated with the interaction between the computing device and the remote object.