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Giving Touch-Screen Buttons Depth and Height With Pneumatics

Posted by timothy on from the wait-for-pneumatic-spam dept.

blee37 writes "Researchers at Carnegie Mellon demonstrate 'popping out' touch screen buttons to become physical buttons using pneumatics. The idea is to combine the dynamic reconfigurability of touch screen buttons with the tactile feedback of real buttons. The technology could be applied where tactile feedback is currently lacking, such as in car navigation systems, ATMs, or cell phones."

10 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. Oh no... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is a BAD idea for in-car SatNav/GPS.

    Anything that might make drivers think they can set/adjust something by reaching and groping when they should be concentrating on driving will cause accidents.

    1. Re:Oh no... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      As opposed to having to stare at the device.... yeah, much worse

    2. Re:Oh no... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Like... a shifter?

    3. Re:Oh no... by orgelspieler · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Actually, several of these nav systems have mode to get directions when walking about. So I don't see why it would be a bad idea to make this more accessible for blind people. Providing a touchable map of the area could prove quite useful. Also, raised buttons would let them know where to press.

  2. "a$$ and tittiez!" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    So porn sites will be able to have interactive women in 3-d on touchscreens? SWEET!

  3. Er by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Touch screens are nice because they can be programmed to display whatever controls you wish, but isn't the lack of moving parts another advantage? This seems like it would have MTBF issues.

  4. Why Not... by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Just make buttons that have a touch screen on them, thus you still have the scroll-ability and versatility of a touch screen, combined with the tacticle feedback of buttons when you want things to function like a button...

    Or am I completely missing the point?

  5. Visual feedback by Enderandrew · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I assumed I'd have issue with the touch keyboard on the iPhone. However, when I press a key, that key is highlighted and enlarges. I receive visual feedback of the key I pressed, even if I don't have physical feedback. Yes, it requires I look when I text, but I can't imagine many scenarios where I'd really ever text without looking just because there was some physical feedback.

    I'll take the lack of moving parts over the physical feedback, especially given how often I've dropped my phone.

    --
    http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
  6. Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Weren't touch-screens the latest rage because.. you didn't have to.. push... buttons?

  7. ONE WORD: by Philip+K+Dickhead · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "Nipples"

    --
    "Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell