Pressure vs Force Explained: How Tactile Sensing Improves Design

Pressure shapes our world in ways we rarely notice. It keeps jets aloft, makes glasses fit comfortably, and determines whether a robotic gripper handles delicate components precisely or damages them.

Dr Jae Son, CEO and founder of tactile sensing specialist PPS, explains the science behind pressure and force and how tactile pressure mapping converts invisible interactions into actionable insights for smarter engineering and product design.

The Invisible Distinction: Pressure vs Force

The difference between pressure and force is subtle but critical. Confusing them can be costly in areas where safety, comfort, and precision are essential.

• Force measures the push or pull applied in a specific direction (vector).

• Pressure measures how that force is distributed over an area (scalar).

For example, a scale measures your weight (force due to gravity). On the Moon, the reading changes because gravity is weaker, not because you’ve changed. Pressure adds another dimension: standing barefoot on a smooth floor spreads force evenly and feels fine, but on a pebble, the same force concentrated on a small area causes discomfort.

This principle explains why:

• A blood pressure cuff at 3 psi can feel painful.

• Being underwater at 10 metres (≈15 psi) feels fine.

• A restaurant table can wobble even if its legs are the same length due to uneven pressure distribution.
  
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