Climbing-capable robots have been around for a while now, but none accomplish the task quite like the Treebot. This inchworm-like automaton, built by researchers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, is essentially blind. It relies on tactile feedback from its front and rear gripping claws, rather than through a sophisticated visual mapping system, to tell where it’s going. While it’s slower to the summit than other robotic climbers, the Treebot is among the first to be able to successfully navigate complex branch systems. Well, there goes my Robopacalypse hiding spot.[IEEE Spectrum]
“Oooooh…hmmmyes, please. Up to the left, to the left, up, up, no, a little down, doooown, theretherethere… A little to the right? Oh yes. Theeeere! Aaaahooooohuuuuh. So good.” This is how I wish the Drops worked. But it’s still neat. More »
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have demonstrated a device that can create touchable, creepily invisible floating “objects” using focused ultrasound waves. Though the technology is early testing stages, its designers have already expressed an interest in weaponi- I mean, commercialising it for possible use in gaming and design applications. For now, the team has only been able to simulate resistance in one direction, but say that forming complex shapes and textures is plausible.
Among the rush of Apple patents relating to touchscreens over the last year came one on tactile feedback touchscreens, and Nokia seems to have been thinking along the same lines. Almost exactly the same lines, since Nokia’s Haptikos tech is a system of fluid-cells driven by piezoelectric actuators that push up through a flexible touchscreen. And that sounds a lot like Apple’s sub-surface, adjustable tactile “keys.” But apparently the Nokia tech is aimed at “variable and controllable user perceived surface roughness or friction coefficient” rather than buttons. Fascinating stuff, nevertheless. [Unwiredview]
A team of Korean and US scientists have developed a new type of display that delivers information via your biggest organ: your skin (yes, I know what you were thinking.) Their new tactile “display” is flexible enough to be rolled up around your finger like a bandaid, and may be a useful computerised Braille aid. The device uses new precisely-arranged electroactive polymers, which expand when a voltage is applied applying gentle pressure to nearby skin. This, along with the fact it doesn’t need complex electronics, means that it’s the kind of tech that could easily end up in haptic-feedback data gloves or a “tele-feeling transferring system,” which sounds *ahem* fascinating. [Physorg]
Looking like the love child of the mechano-digital Di Grisogono and the F1 watches, this concept is intended to be a timepiece for the visually impaired. Elements of the 7-segment numerals pop out so you can tell the time with a touch (I’m guessing it shows hours, minutes sequentially.) But designer Matthew Wagerfield thought that just because it would be for those with poor vision, doesn’t mean it can’t look great. And Sentio is attractive enough that many a normally-sighted person would love one. [Sentio via Gizmowatch]
Apple’s latest patent filing is for a tactile touchscreen. It’s not a new idea, but while companies LG and Alpine use vibration technology to make you feel like you are touching something distinct, the Apple patent suggests that you actually will touch something physical. One idea is for Braille-like bumps to emerge from the screen. Another, cooler technique, is for keys to reveal themselves by pushing up through a flexible screen. A third base covered by the patent is for keys with concave depressions to be hidden just under the surface, so that you push down on the screen, you feel the keys but still won’t see them. [Unwired View] More »
We all knew those tacky 3D shades were just the beginning. A Japanese company is claiming to have ditched the geeky glasses and developed realistic 3D imaging technology that, when coupled with their sensor-packed glove, allows you to see and feel images. Yes, you can finally get your mitts on those crazy characters you’ve been swiping at since you were a kid. It gets crazier: More »
Remember the Pantech IM-R200 double LCD phone with touchscreen keys? You know, the one that gives you tactile feedback on the touchscreen so you can actually see what’s going on? AVING hassome nicer pictures of the screen, showing off various styles of keypads that you can change to.
We’re hoping there’s more than just keypad styles on the touchscreen—maybe some kinda QWERTY or something—but we do see that it looks different when a call is in effect. Head over to check out more pics.
Bonus shot after the jump.
There’s more than one fancy slider out there, you know. If you are sick of the Ocean (Already? You’re too jaded, my friend), then feast your eyes on the Pantech IM-R200.
It’s a slider that features two LCD screens, one that slides out from beneath the other. While one might argue that this has the downsides of both the Ocean and the iPhone (bulky slider and a touchscreen), this touchscreen features tactile feedback in the form of a vibration feature. How well does it work? Great question. It’ll probably be a while before we get a chance to find out, as this phone is headed to Korea with no word on a Stateside release. –Adam Frucci
New dual-screen slider from Pantech [Slashgearl]
