Kiosk Solutions Apr-May 2017 | Page 9
news
Flexible touchscreens are the future of technology
Last week, touchscreen technology reached a new level
when scientists developed a transparent sensor that can
be stretched and folded as much as you like, and still works
perfectly. We already have pressure touch, where the sensor
recognises if you are just tapping the screen gently or
pushing down firmly, and hover touch, where you don’t have
to physically touch the screen for it to react because it will
sense your finger is near and react in the same way. And it is
now time for a touchscreen that can bend, stretch and roll.
Scientists at the University of British Columbia developed
the small prototype using an extremely conductive gel
sandwiched between layers of silicone. Many sensors
are then attached to the material to create the finished
prototype. The sample sensor measures 5x5cm, however
because the materials are fairly cheap to buy, it could easily
be scaled up to a bigger size, for things such as television
screens. The scientists have also explained that no matter
how much the prototype is stretched and folded, it will never
lose its sensitivity to touch. This is great as it means there are
very few limits to what the screen can be used for.
The university’s main idea for creating this flexible
technology is to use it within robots – to help them to
become more human-like. For example, it could be used as
a sensitive flesh like skin with the ability to grow real tissue.
If robots were to have a more lifelike soft skin, then they
would be much safer towards humans, which means they
would then be able to be used in a wider range of areas such
as health and medical care, and also be able to work with
humans, rather than against them. This would be a huge
relief for anyone who has concerns about the future of AI
taking over our jobs.
It’s not only robots that this technology could be used for,
as the sensor can be placed on or over pretty much anything
it means there are many different possibilities. Television and
tablet screens are examples of day-to-day items that could
be made using this technology and the University of British
Columbia have shown this in a video they posted featuring a
woman struggling to fit her tablet in her handbag, implying
that it would be easier if she could simply fold the device.
So, you never know, you might be folding up your
next smartphone to make it fit in your wallet, or your new
colleague could be a robot with real skin. Either way, the
future of touchscreen technology is an interesting one that
scientists will continue to work on for many years to come. n
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