Oct 25

Stanford builds super-stretchy skin sensor out of carbon nanotubes (video)

Posted in: multitouch, research, science, Today's Chili, touch, video
An artificial skin that senses pressure, pinches and touch sounds like a macguffin from The Outer Limits (the episode “Valerie 23” if we recall correctly), but that’s what a team from Stanford University has cooked up on the back of its pick-up truck. Sensors made of silicon films with a matrix of liquid carbon nanotubes ensure the material snaps back to its original shape no matter how frequently it’s pulled about. When compressed, the electrical conductivity of the skin changes, and by measuring where and by how much, it knows the location and pressure of where you jab your fingers. The team wants to combine this super stretchy film with a much more sensitive sensor and if it can do it, then the technology could end up as an artificial skin for burn victims, covering prosthetic limbs or even replacing your multitouch display — just be careful, you might hurt Siri if you pinch-to-zoom her too hard.

Continue reading Stanford builds super-stretchy skin sensor out of carbon nanotubes (video)

Stanford builds super-stretchy skin sensor out of carbon nanotubes (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 18

Microsoft’s PocketTouch prototype is like x-ray vision for your fingers (video)

Posted in: capacitive, Microsoft, multitouch, prototype, research, science, sensor, smartphone, Today's Chili, touch, video
Is it more gauche to pull out your phone in the middle of a date, or to draw a bunch of crop circles on your pants? That’s the question we were asking ourselves after coming across PocketTouch — a new Microsoft Research prototype that lets you manipulate your handset without ever removing it from your pocket. Developed by researchers Scott Saponas, Chris Harrison and Hrvoje Benko, the device essentially consists of a customized, multitouch capacitive sensor hooked on to the back of a smartphone. This sensor is capable of picking up gestures through fabric, allowing users to execute a wide array of eyes-free, gesture-based functions (including simple swipes and alphanumeric text) without ever having to actually whip out their phones. To do this, the team implemented what it calls an “orientation-defining unlock gesture,” which helps the prototype get its bearings, before testing the capacitive sensors across different fabrics. According to Microsoft, the outcome “exceeded expectations,” though there’s no word on when or if this Goliath of a device could ever hit the mainstream. Head past the break to see a video of a man playing tic-tac-toe on his pants.

Continue reading Microsoft’s PocketTouch prototype is like x-ray vision for your fingers (video)

Microsoft’s PocketTouch prototype is like x-ray vision for your fingers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 05:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink GeekWire  |  sourceMicrosoft Research  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 14

Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video)

Posted in: app, application, ipad, itunes, Mac, mouse, multitouch, tablet, Today's Chili, touch, video, Windows, Wireless
Looking for a hands-on 3D controller that won’t require any five-fingered peripherals? Check out Maide Control — a new app that allows users to manipulate 3D CAD data from the comfort of their iPad displays. Available for $4.99 on iTunes, this app will wirelessly sync an iPad with any compatible 3D program, thereby enabling modelers to mold and view their designs using an array of multitouch gestures. You can also use Maide Control to showcase models on larger displays (say, at a company presentation), or to connect multiple iPads to the same render, in case you’re working on a more collaborative project. For now, the app only supports Google SketchUp and Rhino on Windows only, though the company plans to incorporate other 3D apps and Mac support in the near future. Wiggle past the break to see a pair of demo videos, or hit up the source link below to download the app directly from iTunes.

Continue reading Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video)

Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 30

Swatch Touch watch reacts to your, well, you know

Posted in: LCD, Today's Chili, touch, touchscreen, watch
Admit it, you’ve either owned or lusted after some sort of quirky Swatch in your lifetime. If not, its new Touch watch may be the one to finally give you a case of GAS. According to T3, the timepiece sports a convex LCD touchscreen, used for swiping or tapping through settings. Aside from displaying the time and date in an eye-caching (nearly unreadable) manner, it features an alarm, a timer, chronograph functionality and keeps track of two timezones. The Swatch Touch is said to hit the UK scene on October 1st, in a choice of six colors for £100 (roughly $157). Looks like Tokyoflash just got itself a worthy foe.

Swatch Touch watch reacts to your, well, you know originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Oh Gizmo!, Ubergizmo  |  sourceT3  | Email this | Comments

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Sep 28

Amazon Kindle family portrait

Posted in: amazon, Android, kindle, tablet, Today's Chili, touch, video

And golly, don’t they look proud. On the left, the new $99 Kindle Touch. On the right, the new $79 Kindle. And, in the middle, the $199 Kindle Fire tablet. So, which would you rather? If you need more help deciding, check out the gallery, which features the third-generation Kindle thrown into the mix.

Gallery: Amazon Kindle family portrait

Amazon Kindle family portrait originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 28

Everything You Need to Know About the New Kindles

Posted in: amazon, kindle, tablet, Today's Chili, top, touch

Cheap Kindles! Touchable Kindles! Firey Kindles! Amazon really unloaded an entire clip of hardware goodness on the world—including the most important tablet since the iPad. Today, Amazon became one of the most important companies in consumer electronics. More »

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Sep 28

Amazon launches Kindle Touch and Touch 3G: starts at $99, ships November 21st

Posted in: amazon, breaking news, e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, kindle, Today's Chili, touch

Oddly enough, the Kindle Fire already feels like yesterday’s news. Why? Because Amazon won’t stop launching new products. Jeff Bezos just revealed the Kindle Touch ($99 with ads, $139 without) here in New York City, noting that this guy’s using an IR touch system, similar to the latest Nook and Kobo, and there’s no keyboard (physical, anyway) to speak of. It’s slimmer, smaller and lighter than the existing Kindle, with a muted silver chassis that looks almost nothing like the Kindles of today. The entire user interface has been re-thought out, with “taps” being used in place of buttons. Need another reason to buy? We’re told that it’s using the company’s “most advanced” E Ink display yet, and while no specifics were doled out, “extra long” was the term used to describe battery life. A 3G-enabled model ($149 with free global roaming!) will also be available, with the duo up for pre-order later today and shipments going out on November 21st. Unfortunately, the Touch — like the Fire — is a US-only product.

Keep up with the unveiling at our liveblog of the Amazon event.

Update: Orders are live!

Gallery: Amazon launches Kindle Touch e-reader in NYC!

Gallery: Amazon Kindle Touch press shots

Continue reading Amazon launches Kindle Touch and Touch 3G: starts at $99, ships November 21st

Amazon launches Kindle Touch and Touch 3G: starts at $99, ships November 21st originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 16

RePro3D is a ‘touchable’ 3D interface that lets you poke pixies (video)

Posted in: Today's Chili, touch, video
RePro 3D

The illusion of 3D is kind of ruined the moment you reach out and try and grab whatever silly thing is supposed to be protruding from the screen. Researchers at Keio University in Tokyo have started to figure out a solution to the problem, and are calling their system RePro3D. By combining a glasses-free 3D display with an infrared tactile interface, they are able to create a holographic model that responds when “touched.” The next step for the team is to provide feedback via a wearable device, adding the sensation of touch to the already impressive illusion of interactivity. We do have our concerns about the researcher’s motives however. One of the creators, Keitaro Shimizu, told DigInfo, “there are many attractive characters in animations and games, but since those characters only exist within the screen, it feels a little lonely…” We guess getting a girlfriend is out of the question. Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading RePro3D is a ‘touchable’ 3D interface that lets you poke pixies (video)

RePro3D is a ‘touchable’ 3D interface that lets you poke pixies (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TechCrunch  |  sourceDigInfo  | Email this | Comments

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Sep 15

‘Phantom sensation’ haptic tech recreates the feeling of getting virtually stabbed

Posted in: gaming, Today's Chili, touch, video

When it comes to gaming, the more realistic the better, right? Sure, it’s all fun until we start talking about being virtually sliced with a battle axe or pelted with a rocket launcher — exactly the idea behind a new technology dubbed “phantom sensation.” Researchers at the University of Electro-Communications know that to virtually recreate the feeling of touch, they need to apply vibrations to two points of skin. Taking the idea one step further, they applied the stimuli to either side of the body to mimic what it might feel like if the object actually passed through. Using a tweaked Wii, as an item in the game travels through the player’s hand, the top sensor vibrates intensely at first, then subsides to zero. At this point, the bottom probe kicks in, going from zero to strong until the object is cleared — leaving the player feeling slightly violated and virtually gored. Check out the (relatively) painless demonstration video after the break.

Continue reading ‘Phantom sensation’ haptic tech recreates the feeling of getting virtually stabbed

‘Phantom sensation’ haptic tech recreates the feeling of getting virtually stabbed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 06:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceDigInfoTV  | Email this | Comments

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Sep 13

Volvo unveils Concept You luxury sedan, dripping with touchscreens (video)

Posted in: app, car, interface, luxury, monitor, safety, Today's Chili, touch, touchscreen, video
The Frankfurt Motor Show is underway in Germany, where Volvo has just taken the wraps off the Concept You — a new luxury sedan that features some pretty nifty, touch-based controls. Directly behind the car’s steering wheel lies a monitor that digitally displays your basic driving information, including speed and a map of your trajectory. The wheel also features some sensor enhanced panels, which you can use to adjust your radio or cruise control settings. A touch interface on the center console, meanwhile, uses an infrared sensor to pick up on any hand or eye movements before activating to bring up the system’s infotainment control mode, which boasts an unreleased FreshAir subwoofer from Alpine. From here, you can surf the web, swipe through radio stations, check for safety alerts or control your air conditioning, using only your fingers or customized gestures. Plus, there’s an extra touchscreen placed between the two rear seats, meaning your kids won’t be left out of the action, either. Cruise past the break for an exclusive video of the Concept You’s so-called smart pad technology, along with the full PR.

Continue reading Volvo unveils Concept You luxury sedan, dripping with touchscreens (video)

Volvo unveils Concept You luxury sedan, dripping with touchscreens (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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