The newest iteration in Apple’s iPhone line up, the iPhone 6S, was released on September 25th 2015. It features the standard yearly improvements such as higher resolution front and rear cameras, faster processor speed, and improved durability. However, the most interesting feature in the new model is its pressure-sensitive screen. Apple is calling this feature “3D touch,” and it makes use of two new touch gestures: peek and pop. “Peek” is used to preview content and it can be activated by a light touch. “Peek” is currently implemented in many of Apple’s core apps such as mail, where users can preview email messages without having to fully open them. “Peek” is also implemented in messaging: If a contact sends you a link you can preview the website from within the messaging app without having to switch into Safari. If you would rather view the whole website instead of a preview, you just need to add more pressure and the content will open as normal. This gesture is known as “pop” [i]
3D touch also supports quick actions. A light tap, similar to peek, on any supported app icon will open the quick action menu. From there, a list of options relevant to the app will appear, allowing you to quickly select one without having to open the app and look for it yourself. The quick action menu for messages displays your most likely contacts for messaging (based on how frequently and how recently you’ve talked to a contact). Other apps such as the camera have quick actions like taking a selfie or recording a video, and tapping a quick action automatically opens the app in the correct spot ready to go [ii]
3D touch is already being incorporated into apps such as Skype and Snapchat. A big market for pressure sensitivity will be art apps such as photo editors and drawing apps. There are currently no announced plans to bring 3D touch to the iPad but, in my opinion, it will most likely make an appearance in the next year. With pressure sensitive capabilities, the iPad could find itself in the digital art market. Wacom has dominated the digital art market for over 10 years with their line of drawing tablets: as of 2013 they own 80% of the market share. Wacom is notable for its high number of pressure levels, with 2048 different levels being standard on most of their tablets. Apple has not announced the exact number of pressure levels in 3D touch, but one developer has created an app that uses the pressure sensitivity as a scale which indicates that it is capable of many varying degrees of pressure. Apple rejected the scale from their app store, with the main reason for removal being that users would damage their screens by placing heavy objects on it [iii]
Several Android phone developers have already announced their plans to release phones with pressure sensitivity. Huawei’s Android phone, the Mate S, is being marketed as a Force Touch smartphone that is set to be released in 2016. Synaptics announced their ClearForce technology in October 2016. ClearForce promises to provide the same capabilities as 3D touch and will be available to all Android phone developers such as HTC, Samsung, and LG [iv]
[i] Get your iPhone apps ready for 3D Touch. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2015, from https://developer.apple.com/ios/3d-touch/
[ii] IPhone 6s – 3D Touch – Apple (Canada). (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2015, from http://www.apple.com/ca/iphone-6s/3d-touch/
[iii] Fingas, R. (2015, October 28). Skype, Snapchat, other iOS apps add 3D Touch commands, Apple blocks weight scale app. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/10/28/skype-snapchat-other-ios-apps-add-3d-touch-commands-apple-blocks-weight-scale-app
[iv] Synaptics ClearForce Press Release. (2015, October 6). Retrieved October 22, 2015, from http://www.synaptics.com/en/press-releases/clearforce-phone.php
[v] [3D Touch]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://assets.creativity-online.com/images/work/print/a/p/p/Apple_3DTouch15.jpg
