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A Touch Screen With Morphing Buttons

Posted by Soulskill on from the mighty-morphin-power-button dept.

Al writes "Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have created a touch screen that can also produce physical buttons. Graduate student Chris Harrison and professor Scott Hudson use a projector and infrared sensor below the screen to illuminate it and make it touch-sensitive, and the physical buttons are created using air pumps below the surface. They say this type of screen could be particularly useful when a simple, flat touch-screen is too distracting, for example in a vehicle dashboard."

9 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Full of hot air by BurzumNazgul · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you read the article this isn't nearly as impressive as it sounds. The buttons are in a static configuration and need an air compressor to rise. They're going to need to come up with a more flexible method of tactile feedback if they want to create a useful technology. Back to the drawing board!

    --
    I can say [REDACTED] anytime I want!
    1. Re:Full of hot air by SatanicPuppy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      To me its just another component to fail, and touchscreens have enough problems already. Is it cool enough to really rate the extra maintenance? Just get used to no buttons.

      --
      ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
  2. new tech by greghodg · · Score: 1, Insightful

    In about five years I'm going to come up with this great idea to actually use physical "buttons" to control things. Everyone will be clamoring to use my "pushbutton" technology to replace the ubiquitous touchscreens that everyone has come to despise so much.

  3. More distractions. by Reason58 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They say this type of screen could be particularly useful when a simple, flat touch-screen is too distracting, for example in a vehicle dashboard.

    I know we are obsessed with multitasking more and more, but no. Almost every automobile "accident" is caused by one or more people simply not paying attention, and I don't think we need to give them even more stuff to play with while driving.

    If a touch screen is going to be too distracting for some situation, then mighty morphin power buttons are not the answer. The answer is wait until you are done with whatever you are doing, then use them.

  4. Re:Accessibility.... by owlnation · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm all for stopping blind people from controlling vehicles. See enough of them on the roads in Ireland already ;-)

    Ah, sometimes it's hard to moderate comments. Having driven in Ireland, I've no idea whether this is "funny", "informative" or "insightful". We need more options really... and probably more opticians too.

  5. Re:This fixes touchscreens by reashlin · · Score: 2, Insightful

    My first though was that is would be the only option for the Tesla Model S.

  6. Re:Nokia is doing it better by Red+Flayer · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Not that I will ever purchase a phone that doesn't have actual physical buttons on it for when (not if, WHEN) the touchscreen breaks down. I'm just saying.

    And I'm never purchasing a phone that doesn't have a touchscreen on it for when the physical buttons break down.

    Yes, touchscreens have durability issues to be worked out, but I still firmly believe that in the long run, fewer moving parts == better.

    --
    "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  7. Re:Interactive porn in... by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Unless you just buy it.

    ITYM rent as opposed to lease... unless you really meant slavery.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  8. Re:This fixes touchscreens by sexconker · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You know what else fixes touchscreens?

    Real buttons.