We just got a look at some amazing touchscreen interaction, running on a humble resistive touchscreen with some
OMAP hardware backing it up. Stantum's technology is a software-based refinement to resistive touchscreens that allows for accuracy beyond the pixel density of the display, a complete lack of touchscreen "jitters" and some fairly incredible input methods. Termed "TouchPark," the multitouch framework provides gesture recognition, cursor management and physics processing for phone builders to stick on top of the phone OS (Symbian, Windows Mobile and Android are currently supported), and works with hardware such as
Texas Instruments Zoom,
Freescale i.MX and ST Nomadic. The PMatrix multitouch firmware allows for unlimited inputs, detection of any contacting object (a finger, a stylus or even a paintbrush) and pressure sensitivity. We played with the demo unit for a bit and were frankly blown away, it's far and away the best touch experience we've ever seen or felt, and the multitouch functionality is just gravy on top. Stantum is targeting resistive touchscreens because they're still considerably cheaper to build than capacitive ones, and from our perspective there seems to be zero tradeoff -- for sensitivity and accuracy this destroys everything else we've seen on the market, capacitive or not. Sadly, there's no word on when this will make it into real, shipping handsets, but we'll certainly be tracking its progress obsessively. Video is after the break.
posted February 19th 2009 10:32AM
wooooah.... apple is pissing in their pants right about now!! =P
Apple? Forget about Apple!
Everyone should be pissing in their pants if they don't have that technology yet!!!!
Apple will file a lawsuit in 5.....4....3...2..
Resistive touchscreens are superior to capacitive ones because they're more accurate than capacitive screens based on how each accepts input. We all know capacitive screens can only be operated by the fat part of a persons finger or thumb (which is not a very accurate method of input, and the reason why the iPhone needs a magnifying feature to place the cursor exactly where you want it); whereas resistive screens can be operated by anything that comes into contact with it (including a fingernail or any other object) and they allow for input with pinpoint accuracy (stylus, anyone?).
I've never liked capacitive screens and could never understand the obsession people had with them and the hype they built around them. I could never figure out why some people (including Engadget at one point) claimed that capacitive screens were more accurate...they simply are not in real-world use. Resistive is where it's at. And because resistive screens are more accurate and allow for pinpoint input, they become more flexible because there are more potential and existing applications that make use of that accuracy: hand-drawn maps and diagrams, photo editing, sketches, handwriting recognition, etc. - some of which we saw in the video. Try doing that with an iPhone.
Adding multi-touch capability to a resistive touchscreen is just icing on the cake. In fact, it's just another cake altogether. Can't wait to see this technology in phones.
That thing would make an awesome replace for a touch-pad in future laptops. Use it to control the cursor on the main screen. The smaller LCD could display stuff like MP3 Tag info, weather, fresh emails, im, etc.
@ Cassini - whilst you did a great job listing the advantages of resistive touchscreens, you forgot (?) to mention the disadvantages. Resistive touchscreens obscure the underlying display more than capacitive screens - they pass less of the light through and slightly diffuse the image, reducing the quality of the display.
And while capacitive screens are glass-topped, which provides excellent durability and scratch protection, resistive screens have to be plastic-topped and are susceptible to both scratches and indeed damage to the touchscreen itself. It is not just accuracy which matters in 'real-world' use, durability is important too.
But I challenge the idea that resistive touchscreens are more accurate. I do agree that using a finger on a CT is less accurate than using a stylus on a RT, but it is wrong to suggest that CT needs a finger - there are conductive styluses (er, styli?) that work with CTs. And when using a stylus on both, accuracy is no different capacitive versus resistive. Conversely, when using fingers on both, accuracy is no different CT vs RT.
Stantum themselves say that this technology and interface they have developed will work equally well with both resistive and capacitive touchscreens. They say their development projects only use RTs because of the lower cost and greater availability of these types of screens, not because they are inherently more accurate.
And while I can see some applications for absolute (individual pixel) accuracy, it is mostly unneeded. The vast majority of the time you don't need to explicitly hit certain pixels, you are just hitting or moving interface elements which are at least a dozen pixels on a side. But yeah, I have tried a drawing app on the iPhone and it was, basically, unusable. For those type of apps and a few others, I'd say you definitely need a stylus (on CTs and RTs). However I think they represent a very small percentage of all apps.
It is not just Engadget which sees CTs as being the future of most touchscreen applications, the major manufacturers of end devices which use touchscreens are rushing to capacitive, mostly because of the durability, but also because their beautiful new high-pixel-density displays look far better under them. Hence, the obsession and the hype.
WTF!? HTC are you seing this? That's what we want! fuck capacitive!
this is resistive!!!
@ Tushar
Thank you for restating exactly what Ike said..... Can we hear it once more maybe? Third time's a charm....
Agree, put this in an Android phone, make it look slick, put in at least 1gb of system memory, and I am sold.
so much for josh's "F windows mobile capacitive is obviously superior in every freaking way possible"
HTC needs to add alot more to their phones (memory card slot on all models, better directional pad, dedicated camera button), but this would certainly be a step in the right direction. I'm not fond of Capacitive touchscreens. This seems like the best possible touchscreen technology. I can't picture anything better then that demo.
@ Phenom
Maybe he was trying to pull off a "this is sparta!' reference, but you were too caught up in your own confidence to catch that.
@maveric101: Currently capacitive is, for the most part, better than resistive. That doesn't mean techs can be improved - which is what was done here (Really amazing stuff, very impressive!). And this wicked resistive technology also doesn't mean that 6 months from now we won't see someone doing something with capacitive that will blow this out of the water.
This is another issue that comes down to preference... and I definitely would prefer that technology on an HTC phone.
11 seconds into the first video... "As many fingers as you like"
That's what she said! Hey-yo!
hahhahahahaa that comment made me lol :)
xx
Is it wrong that was my thought as well?
If that's what she said, then I would opt out. Hey-yo!
Only problem: not "she".
LMFAO! Michael Scott would be proud!
Hellllooooooooo there baby girl.....come to daddy ;)
award for the creepiest post ever.
Here's the video to go with the comment (ok not related, just made me think of it)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Az_7U0-cK0
Holy shit!
How the hell did they manage multi-touch?!
resistives have always been able to do multi touch but there are big drawbacks which they are hiding in these videos
http://www.touchuserinterface.com/2009/02/stanums-new-multi-touch-framework-and.html
read this more conservative review that covers both the pros and cons for instance a resistive screen cannot tell the difference between two fingers on the screen and can get them mixed up whereas a capacitive screen wouldn't
@cb88, nice post
i dont think these drawbacks are enough to stop the technology from taking off. Figure ones problem is fixed by increased sensitivity right?
very cool.
Screw phones, I need an ultra-thin, ultra-light, long battery life tablet with this technology.
Ok, a phone would also be nice but...you can use brushes with it????? Get...this...to...consumers.
100% agree I want a wacom with this. If they can get it in phones they should be able to get it in a thin tablet.
Put these drivers in a convertible tablet netbook ASAP! I'll be sold!
I agree, this and wacom in a thin tablet with a proper OS and I'm sold...
Preferably a netbook you can squeeze into a manila envelope.
Wow! this is cool
The tradeoff is that resistive screens have the potential to lose accuracy through factors like heat. The resistive film can stretch and expand causing problems in the future.
And a capacitive screen can't sense a pen or brush so it's kinda dumb.
I have a 5 year old HP PDA and the resistive screen has not lost any accuracy at all.
In my opinion coupling this tech with a resistive screen has far more benefits than using a capacitive screen just for that one con.
Being able to use anything to touch the screen AND still have great accuracy for finger presses is the best of both worlds.
Touche.
I live in Canada and use my phones outdoors and in all through the year, even in -20c weather. Even though technically trune, I've never had a problem even in the relatively rare 40+ degree Celsius differential (about 80 degree Fahrenheit) and screen accuracy.
"And a capacitive screen can't sense a pen or brush so it's kinda dumb."
Depends on the use. On a graphics table I would agree with you. On a phone, most people just don't need that. I have zero desire to use a stylus on my iPhone.
And besides, you _CAN_ use a stylus with a capacitive touch screen, it just needs to be specifically designed to work with that sceeen type. Here is an example that can be yours for $8 including shipping if that's how you roll: http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=208721033&listingid=27081057&dcaid=17902
Over all I prefer a glass capacitive screen to a resistive screen that will wear out over time.
"Being able to use anything to touch the screen"
In reality you shouldn't. You should only use a stylus designed for touch screens. The plastic coating can be damaged. You can use you car key in a pinch, but I wouldn't do it on a regular basis.
This is another issue that comes down to preference... and I definitely would prefer that technology on a future device.
Craig,
It's called a screen protector.
A pack of 3 for $10 bucks will cover you for the life of your phone.
Feel free to throw fingernails, car keys, screwdrivers, styli, or heck even the good ol finger if you're feel daring enough.
whoa.
Your avatar made me laugh. Well done.
Keanu?
They had me at "Pressure sensitive".
Mind-blowing..... THIS TECHNOLOGY NEEDS AN OPEN SOURCE OS to make the best out of it. Com'on Android.
Screw Android!
Did you see what he did there?
He did insanely precise multi-touch on a resistive screen!
If we can do that, we can run freaking Ubuntu on a phone!
Welcome to the future!
I hope this post will change Josh Topolsky's mind on resistive touch screen :)
and make him write 10 reasons why apple with the iphone and its patents