microsoft's pre-touch sensory anticipates when and where fingers are approaching

microsoft’s pre-touch sensory anticipates when and where fingers are approaching
image courtesy of microsoft

microsoft presented research advances in precognitive touch screens that could vastly improve user interaction in a number of ways and contribute to the company’s ambition to deliver more personal computing experience. the project looks at mobile devices that can intelligently anticipate an user’s intended action even before touching the screen. the research uses the phones ability to sense how an user grips the device, as well as when and where the fingers are approaching. 

video courtesy of microsoft

‘it uses the hands as a window to the mind,’ explains ken hinckley, a principal researcher at microsoft. ‘I think it has huge potential for the future of mobile interaction and I say this as one of the very first people to explore the possibilities of sensors on mobile phones, including the now ubiquitous capability to sense and auto-rotate the screen orientation.’