OpenHaptics - FAQs Page

What is the OpenHaptics toolkit?
The Sensable™ OpenHaptics™ toolkit enables developers to integrate haptics with existing third-party applications and new applications. The OpenHaptics toolkit provides a new, extensible architecture that offers a framework for multiple layers of capabilities. The foundation layer of this new architecture is the Haptic Device API (HDAPI). The HDAPI enables haptic programmers to render forces directly, offers control over configuring the runtime behavior of the drivers, and provides convenient utility features and debugging aids.

Which platforms does OpenHaptics run on?
See the System Requirements.

Which Sensable devices does Open Haptics work with?
The OpenHaptics works with different PHANTOM® devices depending on the operating system. See the System Requirements.

How do I get Developer Support for OpenHaptics?
Developer support for the OpenHaptics is offered to Sensable customers through the Sensable Developer Support Center (DSC) at: . The DSC offers information and forums for the collaboration and the exchange ideas including software, hardware, and general discussions. For software customization of the 3D Touch SDK - HDAPI or for funded-development projects please contact us.

Can I use DirectX with OpenHaptics? 
OpenGL is the only graphics library that is officially support by the OpenHaptics toolkit, and Sensable does not verify OpenHaptics functionality with any other graphics library. With this in mind, we have outlined some information below about the OpenHaptics toolkit that you may find helpful should you decide to experiment with using the OpenHaptics toolkit with DirectX:

  • The HDAPI part of OpenHaptics has no dependencies on OpenGL, so you can use DirectX, OpenGL, or any other graphics library along with the HD features.
  • The OpenHaptics HL library is intended to work with OpenGL in order to add haptics to OpenGL rendered geometry. However, there are many features in OpenHaptics HLAPI that do not depend on OpenGL, and you can use those with DirectX. For example, you can use custom shapes, motion and button press events, and some HL effects with DirectX, OpenGL, or no graphics library at all.

You may wish to refer to the HL console examples that are part of the OpenHaptics toolkit. These examples use HL features with no graphics libraries at all, so they use features that do not depend on OpenGL.

Where do I get PHANTOM Device Drivers (PDD) for my PHANTOM haptic device?
Please visit our Device Driver download page to obtain the latest version of your Phantom Device Drivers.

What is the difference between the PHANTOM Omni Developer Kit and the PHANTOM Omni Deployment units?
The PHANTOM Omni Developer Kit includes the PHANTOM Omni haptic device, the OpenHaptics software and perpetual software license, one year of hardware maintenance for the PHANTOM Omni device, and one year of Basic Developer OpenHaptics software support and updates including access to the Sensable Developer Support Center. Deployment units are for volume users and OEMs for runtime license deployment scenarios.

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