Microsoft have just filed a new patent that might do away with the need to use keypads on phones which uses memory plastic to create touch keys when and where required. This will facilitate much faster typing speeds and eventually will remove the need for mobile phone keypads.
Several organizations are developing special touchscreens that fool our tactile senses into experiencing virtual keys as physical entities. This is because different types and frequencies of vibration can be used to emulate the feel of texture when none exists. Although this works reasonably well in certain circumstances, there are some fundamental problems. The major problem is that some of the necessary frequencies are within the audio spectrum so that the phone continually emits a buzz which, though only just audible, has the potential to become very annoying.
Microsoft’s radical solution is entirely different. They are developing a memory plastic that responds to optical signals in such a way that real keys can be made to protrude from a flat touch screen. The surface of the screen is coated with a shape-memory polymer which is sensitive to light. When a UV light of one specific frequency hits it is becomes hard, whilst another frequency will make it go soft. When these two frequencies are modulated actual physical texture is created. microsoft New Memory Plastic Touchscreen to Replace Smartphone Keypads?
Currently this is being prototypes on relatively large displays and uses cameras to detect the position of fingertips along with a projector to create the appearance of a keyboard; however the technology is only in its early days. It is anticipated that the technology will be applied to smartphones in the future.
The research and development is being carried out in Microsoft’s Washington based Redmond campus and the patent names the inventor as Erez Kikin-Gil.
Creating real keys in touch-screens will enable users to type much faster than is possible with today’s touch screens and it would eliminate the requirement for keypads on phones as buttons could be emulated when needed.
