Sharp's Tiny LCD Doubles As Scanner 69
morpheus83 writes "It's all of 3.5-inches but this LCD screen from Sharp features an integrated optical scanner that could be used to scan business cards, but also be used as a method for multi-touch input. The prototype was seen at the Ceatec exhibition. Possible uses include the ability to recognize fingers or other objects and as biometric lock on your phone. And since each pixel has a scanner it may as well be a multi-touch screen."
Apple Patents? (Score:4, Interesting)
More fingerprint snake oil? (Score:2, Interesting)
Also, fingerprints are per se not exactly unique. Ask the lawyer who was misidentified as a terrorist [latent-prints.com] for having similar fingerprint features.
And of course, it is not exactly difficult to copy [whatthehack.org] and fake [www.ccc.de] someone else's fingerprint.
BTW: the Chaos Computer Club [www.ccc.de] rocks.
Planar Patent (Score:5, Interesting)
Here's a link to a 2003 white paper for the Society of Information Displays that explains the tech completely and much more than the article http://www.planar.com/advantages/whitepapers/docs/Planar-AMLCD-Optical-Touchscreen.pdf [planar.com]
1984 is one year closer (Score:5, Interesting)
In Soviet Russia LCD screens YOU (Score:1, Interesting)