Microsoft, Mitsubishi Develop Two-Sided Touch Screen

Researchers of Microsoft and Mitsubishi are currently developing a touch screen system that can let users type text, tap hyperlinks or navigate maps from the front and back side of a screen. These new touch interface is dubbed as the LucidTouch Project.

The device incorporating the LucidTouch has a screen which projects a semitransparent image of the fingers on the back of the device so that users will be able to see what they are touching.

Patrick Baudisch is one of the researchers working on the LucidTouch Project. On his website, he stated that touch has been one of the most popular input medium for interactive devices; however, touch input on a small screen becomes problematic because a user's fingers covers up what he usually needs to tap. Baudisch stated that LucidTouch aims to address this limitation by letting the users touch the back of the device. The LucidTouch prototype projects a translucent image of the fingers at the back of the device so users can accurately target by providing them with a visual feedback. The translucent image is created by sensing the hand behind the device and rendering a translucent version onto the front screen.

In a video presentation at Baudish's website, a demonstration of the device is shown. According to the video, the LucidTouch prototype uses a camera at the back of the display to capture the position of the hands. The researchers however stated that future devices will include alternative sensors that will be built-in on the body of the device.

According to TechnologyReview.com, the research team glued together a commercial, single input touch screen on the front and a touch pad that can detect multiple inputs on the back. The multiple input touch screen at the back is what the researchers called the gesture pad. LucidTouch works by processing the image on the camera and the touch information from the gesture pad unto a desktop computer where the prototype is connected. TechnologyReview.com reports that pointers are also added for a more precise targeting on the touch pad.

The research team was able to develop several applications for their prototype. In the research team's video demonstration, it showed the LucidTouch device being used for text entry. Using a conventional QWERTY keyboard and the gesture pad at the back, the research team noted that typing was slow but when they split the keyboard so that all fingers can be used, text input was fast. Another application used for the device was a map browser. Interacting with the map, the user was able to rotate and zoom in and out of the map without having to cover up any of the map details, something which cannot be done using ordinary touch screens. The research team believes that with the LucidTouch, they have demonstrated a solid foundation for the future of development of compelling mobile devices.

SOURCE:

Patrick Baudisch, LucidTouch. URL: (http://www.patrickbaudisch.com/projects/lucidtouch/index.html)

LucidTouch YouTube Video. URL: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsNFZAEssPQ)

Kate Greene, Two-Sided Touch Screen. TechnologyReview.com. URL: (http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/19300/page1/)