Haptic technology – potential for library services

Date18 November 2019
Pages883-893
Published date18 November 2019
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-11-2018-0155
AuthorMagdalena Wójcik
Subject MatterLibrary & information science
Haptic technology potential
for library services
Magdalena Wójcik
Faculty of Management and Social Communication,
Institute of Information Studies,
Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
Abstract
Purpose The subject of the paper is haptic technology considered as a tool for improving the performance
of libraries. The purpose of this paper is to determine the potential of this technology in the design of
innovative library services. Specific goals include description of the ideas and features of haptic technology,
identification of the main areas of application of haptic technology and outlining the possible uses of haptic
technology in library services.
Design/methodology/approach The method of analysis and criticism of literature was used. The state of
research from the period 20082018 on the use of haptic technology in libraries was established based on a
systematic search of selected sources, such as resources indexed by Google Scholar, the Worldcat catalogue
and the LISTA database.
Findings Haptic technology is a topic that should be covered more often in library and information science
because it has a great potential to improve library services and make them more attractive. The two most
important areas in which haptic technology could be applied in libraries are education and services, especially
for disabled users that have special educational and service needs. Although it could be very helpful for
disabled users, haptic technology can also be used in various contexts to provide more responsive and
intuitive user interfaces for electronic library services.
Research limitations/implications The purpose of this paper is not to exhaust the topic but to continue
and complement the problems pointed out by P. Fernandez and to initiate further discussion on this topic.
Practical implications The results can be widely used in practice as a framework for the implementation
of haptic technology in libraries.
Social implications The paper can help to facilitate the debate on the role of implementing new
technologies in libraries.
Originality/value The problem of haptic technology is very rarely addressed in the subject literature in
the field of library and information science.
Keywords Emerging technologies, Haptic technology, Information technologies, Modern librarianship,
Library services, Library trends
Paper type Viewpoint
Background
The latest information and communication technologies undoubtedly have a major impact
on the way that libraries operate, both in designing internal processes and in terms of user
services. On a large scale, libraries have adapted the capabilities of computers, mobile
devices, the internet and social media, to name but a few examples (Husain and Nazim, 2015;
Wójcik, 2015; Margam and Dar, 2017). Technology is, however, constantly evolving, as are
the needs and habits of users; therefore, in order to remain relevant to users, libraries must
constantly monitor the changing social and technological trends. One such trend is haptic
technology defined as a group of solutions that aim at giving users tactile feedback often,
but not always, in the context of their interaction with technology. It is a broad subject that
is well developed in many disciplines computer science, management science or cultural
studies however is still virtually absent from library and information science. This is
surprising because haptic technology can presumably have an impact on the way libraries
design new services for users. Todays haptic technologies are most often aimed at Library Hi Tech
Vol. 37 No. 4, 2019
pp. 883-893
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/LHT-11-2018-0155
Received 1 November 2018
Revised 19 March 2019
9 May 2019
Accepted 21 May 2019
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
The author would like to thank Mike Timberlake for proof-reading.
883
Haptic
technology

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