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Disney Engineers Develop Touch Screens That Mimic Tactile Sensations
Lucas123 writes "Engineers at Disney Research in Pittsburgh have developed an algorithm that creates the illusion of a 3D surface on touch screens. Using electrical impulses, the touch screen technology offers the sensation of ridges, edges, protrusions and bumps and any combination of those textures. While Disney is not alone in developing tactile response touchscreens, its researchers said the traditional approach has been to use a library of 'canned effects,' that are played back when someone touches a screen. Disney's algorithm doesn't just playback one or two responses, but it offers a set of controls that make it possible to tune tactile effects to a specific visual artifact on the fly. 'Our algorithm is concise, light and easily applicable on static images and video streams,' the researchers stated." This summer Disney unveiled AIREAL, a system designed to give tactile sensations to people using motion control devices.
They did a touch-screen phone that vibrated when you crossed between virtual keys, and required harder pressure to register than just touching. It sounded like a good idea, but it was a flop in practice. Touchie-feelie phones are bad enough. Touchie-feelie fluffy pix? Eeewww.
Disney calls them "imagineers". These guys were making androids decades ago.
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Eventually the two technologies will combine into something. Toss in the magic of a fleshlight and why not this?
Does this remind anyone else of Futurama? Blank sexbots. Download any likeness. (Lucy Liu beware!)
A whole black market of illegal likenesses. Just think, fresh goat ass for you.
Touch screen systems in cars need something like this. Then they'll need a system to determine when you stop feeling for a button and actually press it.
Too bad Disney is making it. It will be consigned to letting 5 year olds feel pinochio's nose grow, instead of letting old perverts fondle virtual hoes.
(I joke.)
In the real world, this would have considerable applications for interactive kiosks in malls, since it would enable interactive braille and other tactile display technologies to be combined seamlessly with media intended for sighted people, among many other useful applications. Of course, slashdot won't be happy unless they can feel the hot grits. ;)
It's a whole new world.
Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
"but it offers a set of controls that make it possible to tune tactile effects to a specific visual artifact on the fly. "
Now if they can incorporate this with eye-tracking, we can finally have that genie-in-a-bottle we've always wanted.
Tactile feedback sounds like a decent idea. But I wish they'd work on the latency first. You get a much better 'physical' connection with the device when the latency is less than 50 or even 5 milliseconds.
The latest iPhone adds all sorts of scrolling gimmicks, and that'll unfortunately also have the effect of increased latency.
It's worth posting Microsoft's research on this again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOvQCPLkPt4
Why OpalCalc is the best Windows calc
But is pr0n going to be one of the first industries to make use of this technology?
But to Snow White's credit, Ginnifer Goodwin is really really really cute.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
Disney pours quite a lot of money into R&D, always has.
They're always looking to increase the immersion factor of the park attractions with things like interactive displays. Helps the guests believe it really is magic that runs the Magic Kingdom.
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
If so, their fortune is made.
Otherwise they'll have to get buy on what they can make off of engineering and gaming products.
seriously- I'd like to see this inside a set of gloves--- or a full suit.
Brings "ready player one" to mind.
She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
Patents last 20 years. Not 500+.
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So how does this compare to the haptic feedback of the Steam Controller. Same idea? Completely different?
you don't understand patent law then.
in 17 years Disney can move a screw,redo the wiring layout, claim it is a new product and re patent it.
when there exists patent for manually collating papers by placing them them on a table and walking around said table to grab a paper from each stack(IBM). every patent needs to be questioned.
i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
Making a verb out of a noun made from the original meaning of the work fucking annoyhells me.
Verbing nouns and nouning verbs is how the language evolves ;)
No colour or religion ever stopped the bullet from a gun
Could this be useful for stuff like allowing the blind to use tablets (since I imagine that being able to make bumps could lead to usable braille)?
After years of not using a signature, I am going to make one to say the following: Fuck Beta
Look at this screen, isn't it neat! Wouldn't you think my LCD collection's complete!
...that once again, porn will lead the way in the application of this technology to the internet.
-Styopa
No, she's not. She's that borderline cute depending on how her hair is cut and whatever dastardly makeup is forced on her.
We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Look up evergreening, patent thicket, and patent minefield.
you don't understand patent law then.
I don't think you do. My ex-brother in law was supervisor at a factory that made mechanical things. His boss would bring him something their competitor had come up with and ask him "can we make these?" He'd look at it and say "sure, but what about the patent?" His boss answered "that's why we employ lawyers."
Sometimes getting around a patent is as simple as making the exact same part out of a different material. There are usually many ways to do or make a thing, and the patent will only cover one way of doing it.
in 17 years Disney can move a screw,redo the wiring layout, claim it is a new product and re patent it.
And anyone else can study the design and innovate their own improvements and patent those improvements. Other people can make different innovations and patent them. But if someone wants to use this tech in 17 years and follows the original patent, they're in the clear. You can't repatent a patent after it's expired.
Free Martian Whores!