Giving Touch-Screen Buttons Depth and Height With Pneumatics 146
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."
Oh no... (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.
"a$$ and tittiez!" (Score:0, Insightful)
So porn sites will be able to have interactive women in 3-d on touchscreens? SWEET!
Re:Oh no... (Score:5, Insightful)
As opposed to having to stare at the device.... yeah, much worse
Re:Oh no... (Score:1, Insightful)
Like... a shifter?
Er (Score:5, Insightful)
Why Not... (Score:4, 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?
Visual feedback (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.
Why? (Score:2, Insightful)
Weren't touch-screens the latest rage because.. you didn't have to.. push... buttons?
ONE WORD: (Score:4, Insightful)
"Nipples"
Re:Oh no... (Score:3, Insightful)