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Microsoft Patents Shape-Shifting Display

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the not-the-odo-kind dept.

Stoobalou writes "In layman's terms, Microsoft's patent is for a special type of touch-screen display which includes a 'shape-memory' layer at its base. When activated by a special frequency of ultraviolet light, individual blocks — not-coincidentally the same size as a pixel on the display part — can be raised or lowered, lending the displayed image physical texture."

3 of 112 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Lemme guess.. by Yvan256 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Didn't patents used to require at least a prototype?

    I bet someone has already patented terra-forming and dyson spheres.

  2. Re:Lemme guess.. by Yvan256 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Copyrights used to have a fixed length too. If patents ever get their own Mickey Mouse, then it's going to be 25 years, then 50, etc.

  3. Re:decent touch screen keyboard? by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It specifically says "A special frequency of UV" - I imagine you can't really go quicker or slower than that value by much. It's not so much as "Why UV" as "Why THAT Frequency in particular".

    What you are asking is like, Why 'Visible light'? But the Article specifically says 'yellow'.

    I imagine that might help you solve the mysteries of how this device works. But I'm personally. not interested enough to look any further.