This research investigated detection thresholds for small haptic effects and the use of small haptic effects to improve task performance. The affects of icon representation, namely amplitude, shape, and pulse duration on haptic perception were studied. An adaptive thresholding method was used to obtain detection measurements for actively explored haptic icons ranging is size from 3 to 5 mm, smooth vs rough actively explored icons, and static icons of 100 to 150 ms pulse duration. Using Fitts' law as a measurement of task performance, the affects on subject performance with three levels of haptic stimulus between 50 to 300 mN are reported. Results indicate that rough (saw-tooth) haptic icons are more easily detected by a human subject than smooth (sinusoidal) icons of the same size, by almost a factor of two. Mean subject performance, as measured by Fitts' information processing rate and clicks-per-minute, improved with the amplitude of haptic stimulus.