Assistive device with a refreshable haptic feedback interface

An assistive method, comprising:

• in an assistive device that comprises a haptic feedback controller and a haptic feedback interface that includes a plurality of haptic elements:
• generating, by the haptic feedback controller, a first touch-discernible output layout on the haptic feedback interface using the plurality of haptic elements, wherein the first touch-discernible output layout corresponds to a first reproduction of a three-dimensional (3D) real-world area within a first proximity range of the assistive device;
• generating, by the haptic feedback controller, a first set of different haptic indicators that are spatially arranged on the haptic feedback interface to discern a first set of moving objects of the 3D real-world area within the first proximity range, wherein the first touch-discernible output layout includes the first set of different haptic indicators;
• receiving, by the haptic feedback controller, a selection of a first haptic indicator of the first set of different haptic indicators based on a first user input via the haptic feedback interface, wherein the first haptic indicator discerns a target moving object in the first set of moving objects;
• and
• executing, by the haptic feedback controller, a transition from the first touch-discernible output layout to a second touch-discernible output layout based on a movement of the target moving object from the first proximity range to a second proximity range of the assistive device, wherein the second touch-discernible output layout corresponds to a second reproduction of the 3D real-world area within the second proximity range of the assistive device, and wherein the second touch-discernible output layout includes a second set of different haptic indicators that are spatially arranged on the haptic feedback interface to discern movement of a second set of moving objects, including the target moving object, of the 3D real-world area within the second proximity range.