A low-cost haptic feedback keyboard device for providing haptic feedback
to a user for enhancing interactions in a displayed environment provided
by a computer. The haptic keyboard device can be a keyboard having
multiple keys, or can be a wrist rest or other attachment coupled to a
keyboard. The device includes a housing that is physically contacted by
the user and rests on a support surface. An actuator is coupled to the
housing and applies a force to the housing approximately along an axis
that is substantially perpendicular to the support surface, where the
force is transmitted to the user contacting the housing. In one
embodiment, the force is an inertial force that is output by moving an
inertial mass. The keyboard device can be used in conjunction with
another haptic device, such as a mouse, trackball, or joystick.