Haptic Technology Interaction Framework in Engineering Learning: A Taxonomical Conceptualization

Innovative technology helps students foster creative thinking and problem-solving abilities by augmenting human sensing and enriching input and output information. New technology can incorporate haptic sensing features—a sensing modality for user operations. Learning with haptic sensing features promises new ways to master cognitive and motor skills and higher-order cognitive reasoning tasks (e.g., decision-making and problem-solving). This study conceptualizes haptic technology within the human-technology interaction (HTI) framework. It aims to investigate the components of haptic systems to define their impact on learning and facilitate understanding of haptic technology, including application development to ease entry barriers for educators. The research builds a haptic HTI framework based on a systematic literature review on haptic applications in engineering learning over the last two decades. The review utilizes the SALSA methodology to analyze relevant studies comprehensively. The framework outcome is a haptic HTI taxonomy to build visual representations of the explicit connection between the taxonomy components and practical educational applications (by means of heatmaps). The approach led to a robust conceptualization of HTI into a taxonomy—a structured framework encompassing categories for interaction modalities, immersive technologies, and learning methodologies in engineering education. The model assists in understanding how haptic feedback can be utilized in learning with technology experiences. Applying haptic technology in engineering education includes mastering fundamental science concepts and creating customized haptic prototypes for engineering processes. A growing trend focuses on wearable haptics, such as gloves and vests, which involve kinesthetic movement, fine motor skills, and spatial awareness—all fostering spatial and temporal cognitive abilities (the ability to effectively manage and comprehend significant amounts of spatial (how design components or resources are related to one another in the 3D space) and temporal (the logic in a process, such as the order, sequences, and hierarchies of the resources information). The haptic human-technology interaction (H-HTI) framework guides future research in developing cognitive reasoning through H-HTI, unlocking new frontiers in engineering education.