There’s some interesting news today for Apple enthusiasts, as it seems that the company is considering using haptic touchscreen fingertip feedback on its iPhone and iPad devices. Haptic technology enables the user to feel textures when touching the screen and would give a more immersive and responsive feel to users.

This is not the first time that Apple has shown an interest in Haptic technology as it previously had contact with Senseq, a company that specializes in technology that uses electric fields to simulate textures. Today we have learned of a new Apple patent application that would use different methods to replicate the feel of smoothness, roughness or other textures on touchscreens using a tiered Haptic system.

The patent was discovered by Apple Insider who inform that the application is titled “Methods and Systems for Providing Haptic Control.” It was first filed in October 2011 and published this week by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The precise technology used is pretty complex so to avoid making errors we suggest you check out the Apple Insider link above if you want the specific details of how it works. Suffice to say that it would give the touchscreen experience a whole new dimension.

Up until now Haptic feedback has been found mostly in gaming with rumble gestures in response to the action but this patent would develop the idea further and offer “shape changes that would contour a flat surface,” with physical movement of the iPhone or iPad screen. It’s this that would enable the feel of textures.

It’s certainly an interesting idea and one that we think iOS device users would be intrigued to see come to fulfillment, although it’s difficult to imagine such an innovation until we can see and feel it for ourselves. We’ll be following further developments about Apple’s possible use of Haptic technology and will keep readers informed when we hear more.

Does the idea of Haptic technology for the iPhone and iPad excite you? What do you would imagine would be the main benefit of this cutting-edge technology for mobile devices? Let us know with your comments.