2023 Author: Bryan Walter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 22:24
Researchers from Microsoft Research have presented an input technology for touchscreens, which, in addition to direct taps on the screen, also takes into account the nature of the device's gripping and overhanging of the fingers over any area of the screen. The authors will present a detailed talk at the ACM CHI 2016 conference, briefly about the technology is described in the Microsoft blog.
The Pre-Touch Sensing technology is designed primarily for mobile devices and does not require hardware modification of the gadget. The authors of the development propose to use to control the smartphone to use not only the clicks and readings of the sensors, but also information about the grip of the hand holding the smartphone, and information about gestures “hanging” over the screen without touching. This approach makes it possible to more accurately predict the action that the user intends to perform, the researchers note.
In the video posted, the developers demonstrate the use of technology to deliver a user-friendly interface. For example, a media player that does not display any interface elements on the screen by default. The program displays the menu only when the fingers approach the screen, while taking into account the grip and can display a full-fledged menu in the middle or a truncated version for one finger if the user holds the gadget with one hand.
As noted by The Verge, the technology looks more convenient and practically applicable than Apple 3D Touch and similar designs of "overhanging" gestures from Sony and Samsung. The possible introduction of Pre-Touch Sensing technology in serial smartphones has not been reported.
This is not the first Microsoft Research development dedicated to expanding the functionality of serial smartphones without hardware modifications. Previously, experts from Microsoft Research developed a 3D scanning method using a conventional smartphone as a platform without any hardware modifications.
