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The user

Text messaging is the world’s favourite form of digital communication with 216 million messages sent in the UK in 2008. Most of these texts are sent by teenagers and young adults who have grown up surrounded by technology and the Internet. These consumers are tech-savvy adopting and utilising new forms of technology into their everyday life and crave applications where they can co-design features. They have sent so many text messages that the format is becoming stale and they seek new additions to their message to excite them and differentiate themselves from peers.

The experience

Texture messaging is a cross-network, cross-platform messaging service that enhances SMS by allowing the user to attach different elements to their text message.

Using haptic technology, the user can control and manipulate the physical feedback the recipient feels when reading a message by choosing to attach and personalise five variables to their message; light, vibration, texture, motion and temperature. Each of these variables can then be manipulated in different ways including intensity, pattern and depth to communicate different emotions and to suggest and imply things about the content and tone of a message. As the user manipulates these variables they experience the subtle changes beneath their fingertips, enriching not only the message itself but also the user experience.

Texture messaging is also an inclusive service, as existing devices can be retrofitted with certain variables depending on the model. A simple software update would allow many users to attach vibrations of varying intensity and temporal patterns to their messages.