Quantum touchscreen technology developed in Yorkshire

Posted on 9 Feb 2010 at 11:18

Pressure-sensitive quantum touchscreens could soon be on the market, thanks to a deal struck by a UK company. Pressure sensitive screens would allow greater interaction with applications, as you could navigate down through menus with a single touch, or have more complicated gesture inputs.

The new screens' composite material makes use of a phenomena known as Quantum Tunnelling. Nanoparticles in the material are pushed closer together by the pressure of your finger on the screen, once they get close enough then particles, acting as waves, can pass between them in a way that it considered impossible in classical physics.

Peratech, who are based in Brompton-on-Swale in North Yorkshire, are the company responsible for the quantum touch screen. The $1.4 million deal was signed last week between it and Nissha, one of the world's largest manufacturers of touchscreens.

A licensing deal has also been made with Samsung to make four-way joypad controls for its handsets. The new controls would be able to sense the degree of pressure in any particular direction, rather than simply being digital on/off switches.

The only stumbling block is that software support for pressure sensitivity will have to be included in any software. Without support from popular mobile operating systems, like Google's Android, and from those making apps for them, the technology could go unused.

Author: Seth Barton

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