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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."

39 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Interactive porn in... by ActionJesus · · Score: 5, Funny

    3..2..1..

    1. Re:Interactive porn in... by sadness203 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Morphing pornstar ?

      Mmmh 'Key, click here, hold, [enlarging breast] ... Done.

      Congratulation, you now have a virtual porn star with triple G

      xxx-Box Achievement unlock : Isaac Newton's theory is now wrong.

    2. Re:Interactive porn in... by Locke2005 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Publishing the braille edition of Playboy suddenly makes a lot more sense!

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    3. Re:Interactive porn in... by Reason58 · · Score: 4, Funny

      They already have interactive porn. The problem is you constantly have to buy it dinner and feign interest while it talks about its day.

    4. Re:Interactive porn in... by clone53421 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Unless you just buy it.

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    5. Re:Interactive porn in... by Trikki+Nikki! · · Score: 5, Funny

      They already have interactive porn. The problem is you constantly have to buy it dinner and feign interest while it talks about its day.

      I know someone who's sleeping on the couch tonight!

      --
      i r in ur /.s girling up ur storiez
    6. Re:Interactive porn in... by Evanisincontrol · · Score: 2, Funny

      Is this some new feature?

      <offtopic>Yes.</offtopic>

    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:Interactive porn in... by Captain+Splendid · · Score: 5, Funny

      Going for an insightful or funny mod, place your bets!

      I did the math on the Paul McCartney-Heather Mills divorce.
      After 5 years of marriage, he paid her $49 million.

      Assuming he banged her every night during their 5 year relationship, it ends up costing him $26,849 per lay, not counting attorney's fees and court costs.

      On the other hand, Elliot Spitzer's (Governor of New York) call girl Kristen charges $4,000 an hour. Crazy, right?

      But...

      Had Paul McCartney employed Kristen for 5 years, he would've paid $7.3 million for an hour of sex every night for 5 years (a savings of $41+million).

      Value-added benefits are:
      a 22 year old hot babe,
      no begging,
      no coaxing,
      never a headache,
      wide open menu,
      ability to put BOTH legs around you,
      no *****ing and complaining or "to do" lists.

      Best of all, she leaves when you're done, and comes back the next day, ready for another round. All at 1/7th the cost, with no legal fees.

      Is it just me, or is it better to rent?

      --
      Linux, you magnificent bastard, I read the fucking manual!
    9. Re:Interactive porn in... by Tetsujin · · Score: 2, Funny

      No , you would either break your finger or the screen, and if you are a pervert - Accidentally a whole...

      A whole what?

      --
      Bow-ties are cool.
  2. This fixes touchscreens by JCSoRocks · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I hate the lack of tactile feedback on touchscreens. If this really solves that problem I'd love to see it used in ATMs and self checkouts.

    --
    You are using English. Please learn the difference between loose and lose; they're, there, and their; your and you're.
    1. Re:This fixes touchscreens by Thelasko · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I'd love to see it used in ATMs and self checkouts.

      My first thought was that it would be perfect for the Tesla Model S.

      --
      One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
    2. 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.

    3. Re:This fixes touchscreens by Diamon · · Score: 2, Funny

      Just hope your PIN doesn't have a zero in it.

    4. Re:This fixes touchscreens by Jeremy+Erwin · · Score: 3, Funny

      And with a bit of effort, one could even offset the screen and the buttons, so that the user is not intuitively aware of a connection between button A and function A.

    5. Re:This fixes touchscreens by JCSoRocks · · Score: 2, Funny

      Then you can instruct the user to hit "Yes" or "No" but the only buttons are labeled "Enter" and "Cancel". So much fun!

      --
      You are using English. Please learn the difference between loose and lose; they're, there, and their; your and you're.
    6. Re:This fixes touchscreens by sexconker · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You know what else fixes touchscreens?

      Real buttons.

  3. 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 vrmlguy · · Score: 2, Interesting

      This is just Gen-1. I can imagine an array of small buttons, closely spaced, that can be raised en masse to simulate larger buttons. Use a piezoelectric fan to provide the air to the buttons one at a time, just like you direct electrons to a CRTs phosphers.

      --
      Nothing for 6-digit uids?
    2. 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.
    3. Re:Full of hot air by King_TJ · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Yeah... I thought the same thing - although granted, this is just "proof of concept" stage, right now.

      It's also worth considering, though, the fact that this system allows for another "button state" you don't generally have with physical buttons. You have "raised", "flat" (no air compressor running), AND "convex" where the compressor is creating a vacuum, sucking the surface inwards.

      Maybe that could be put to creative/good use?

  4. Accessibility.... by jdgeorge · · Score: 5, Funny

    Of course. You can't just use a simple flat touchscreen in a vehicle dashboard. It would be impossible for a blind person to find the controls.

    1. Re:Accessibility.... by busman · · Score: 5, Funny

      Of course. You can't just use a simple flat touchscreen in a vehicle dashboard. It would be impossible for a blind person to find the controls.

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

      --
      __
      Sigs are like arse-holes, everybody has one ;-)
    2. Re:Accessibility.... by camperdave · · Score: 5, Funny

      It would be impossible for a blind person to find the controls.

      Trust me. If they can find the braille on the keyboards of drive through ATMs, they can find the braille on the control panel of a car.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    3. 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.

    4. Re:Accessibility.... by ColdWetDog · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes because at 100mph I want to be looking down at the dashboard to see where the volume up button is. Using a standard tactile dash I can feel it and I can feel if I've missed it. I don't have to take my eyes off the road.

      Or you could just turn the fucking knob.... What is it with kids these days?

      Grumble. Grump.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    5. Re:Accessibility.... by camperdave · · Score: 3, Funny

      Braille on drive-through ATMs is for blind passengers, not blind drivers.

      Are you saying that a blind person can't use the ATM if they are a driver? Nonsense! How would the machine know if they are a driver or not?

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    6. Re:Accessibility.... by vlm · · Score: 2, Funny

      Braille on drive-through ATMs is for blind passengers, not blind drivers.

      Are you saying that a blind person can't use the ATM if they are a driver? Nonsense! How would the machine know if they are a driver or not?

      Want to really screw around with people, try driving thru an ATM backwards so the passenger can use the ATM. Some of the driveway clearances and curves can be challenging when done in reverse. Also as a bonus you get to stare at the driver behind you, which can vary from pleasant (if they're hot), to disturbing (if they continue to pick their nose anyway despite being face to face).

      --
      "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
  5. Slashdot logins are busted by Reality+Master+201 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm getting a lot of other people's accounts - including their private, unpublished emails and mod points.

    WTF?

    1. Re:Slashdot logins are busted by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yeah, same here. Talk about a security problem...

      --
      Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
    2. Re:Slashdot logins are busted by TinBromide · · Score: 3, Funny

      No

      --
      Is it sad that I am more likely to recognize you and your posts by your sig than your name or UID?
    3. Re:Slashdot logins are busted by PotatoFarmer · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nope, came in under my regular account name. Unless, of course, this is the imposter posting again...

    4. Re:Slashdot logins are busted by amentajo · · Score: 5, Funny

      Awesome. It showed my proper account name, PotatoFarmer, both times. I guess it's just a display error, then.

  6. 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.

  7. Been there, done that. by Space+cowboy · · Score: 4, Informative

    Well actually not I, but Apple have - see this patent filing story

    In fact, they mention using air as the actuator, as far back as 2007.

    --
    Physicists get Hadrons!
  8. Nokia is doing it better by snarfies · · Score: 2, Interesting

    http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/11/07/nokia-introduces-haptikos-touch-feedback-technology/

    The technology in this article isn't scalable, and the "touch screen" isn't transparent, it just has stuff projected onto it from below. The Nokia solution involves piezo sensor pads under the screen and engineered in a 0.1mm movement in the screen itself.

    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.

    1. 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
  9. Will drain your battery in 0.3 nanoseconds by brasselv · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It's just a proof of concept, ok.

    But the concept itself suffers a major limitation: any pressurized, pneumatic-based approach will consume too much power to be eligible for a portable device - where battery life is usually key.

    Not coming to your iPhone anytinme soon.

    --
    "Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong." (Oscar Wilde)
  10. Many applications are possible by Drakkenmensch · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Am I the only one who read about these buttons and immediately imagined a full-screen braille reader for visually impaired users?