Isometric haptic feedback interface

A haptic feedback interface device allowing isometric control from a user, said interface device coupled to a host computer displaying a graphical environment, the interface device comprising:

• a user manipulatable object moveable in at least one degree of freedom by a user;
• at least one sensor providing a sensor signal, said sensor signal including information from which a motion of said user manipulatable object is derived, and wherein a deviation of said user manipulatable object from a reference position is determined based on said sensor signal, said deviation being used to provide isometric control over a value or object implemented by said host computer;
• and
• an actuator outputting a tactile sensation to said user, said tactile sensation being output during said isometric control based on an event occurring in said graphical environment.

A method of scrolling a list of data based on input from a user, said list of data being visually displayed by a computer, the method comprising:

• receiving a sensor signal from a sensor, said sensor signal including information from which a motion of a user manipulatable object in a degree of freedom is derived;
• causing a resistance to be applied which opposes said motion of said user manipulatable object, said resistance being applied using an actuator;
• and
• causing said displayed list of data to be scrolled in response to said user pushing said user manipulatable object against said resistance, a speed of said scrolling being controlled, at least in part, by a magnitude of said pushing.

A method of controlling a scrolling function of a computer using an interface device, the method comprising:

• causing a restoring force to be applied which acts to return a user manipulatable object of said interface device towards an origin within a degree of freedom of said user manipulatable object, said restoring force being applied using an actuator;
• causing an effect force to be applied which provides an overlaid temporal sensation felt by a user of said interface device, said effect force being applied simultaneously with said application of said restoring force using said actuator;
• and
• causing a scrolling function on said host computer to be implemented, wherein a speed of scrolling for said scrolling function is influenced by data from a sensor of said interface device, said sensor detecting user-caused motion of said user object against said restoring force in said degree of freedom.