[NFBF-L] This could change our world!

[Alicia Betancourt]

Pretty cool! Thanks for sharing.

Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
________________________________
From: NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of Peggy Fleischer via NFBF-L <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2023 6:02 AM
To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Peggy Fleischer <peggy.lynn.fleischer at gmail.com>
Subject: [NFBF-L] This could change our world!

Here is an interesting article about emerging technology that could make a big difference to us as blind people.
Researchers Develop New Tactile Technology That Could Enable a Pop-Up Keyboard on a Flat Smartphone DisplayAPRIL 27, 2023 AT 7:12 PMMacRumors: Mac News and Rumors  /  Juli Clover
Researchers in the Future Interfaces Group at Carnegie Mellon this week highlighted a breakthrough in display technology that could make future screens more tactile through raised haptics. As noted by TechCrunch<https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/27/tactile-push-notifications/>, the Future Interfaces Group shared a video and a research paper<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1--KfMTvkerE1dZxiXC6Uf-zRVMtbA6YY/view?pli=1> demonstrating a display that can grow small, physical bumps that can be felt under the fingers.


The technology could be used for tactile notifications, a pop-up keyboard that feels different under the fingers than the standard screen, buttons that remain inflated until pressed, pop-up custom-shaped buttons for controlling system functions, and more. One of the concepts demonstrated includes a pop-up music interface that displays raised music controls for playback, while another features a button on a smartphone that pulses up and down until it's pressed.

Researchers developed a flat panel that's using miniaturized hydraulic pumps to raise the surface through fluid. Each pump is individually controllable and can be activated separately to create dynamic, tactile bumps in a compact form factor.

The hardware is self-contained, lightweight, relatively slim at 5mm, and able to withstand the force of a normal touchscreen interaction.

At the current time, this is emergent technology that's owned by Carnegie Mellon, but it isn't hard to imagine future smartphones that use this kind of functionality. Apple has adopted haptic vibrations for touch-based feedback that's used for notifications and other system feedback, but raised haptics would add another dimension to the display.

Apple could use this kind of technology for a device that folds flat but has a pop-out keyboard when in use, plus there are likely multiple accessibility use cases for those who have sight problems. It's impossible to say whether this is functionality that we will see in Apple devices in the future, but it is an interesting concept.
This article, "Researchers Develop New Tactile Technology That Could Enable a Pop-Up Keyboard on a Flat Smartphone Display<https://www.macrumors.com/2023/04/27/pop-up-keyboard-display-technology/>" first appeared on MacRumors.com<https://www.macrumors.com/>

Discuss this article<https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/researchers-develop-new-tactile-technology-that-could-enable-a-pop-up-keyboard-on-a-flat-smartphone-display.2388015/> in our forums


Peggy Fleischer

NFb-Florida State Board member

Co-chair NFB-FL Communities Of Faith

Vice President
NFB-FL Greater Daytona Beach Chapter
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