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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."

15 of 160 comments (clear)

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

    3..2..1..

    1. 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.
    2. 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.

    3. 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.
    4. 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
    5. 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!
  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.
  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 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!
  5. 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.

  6. 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!
  7. 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.