Turning the whole world into a touchscreen

PC Magazine : Disney Research is working on a more complex touch-based technology. Unlike smart-device screens, which are manipulated by a swipe of the finger, the new Touché system can recognize more complicated hand and body movements. According to Disney researchers Munehiko Sato, Ivan Poupyrev, and Chris Harrison, “For example, making a â shh’ gesture with index finger touching to the lips, could put the phone into silent mode. Putting the hands together, forming a book-like gesture, could replay voicemails.” In addition, sensors could be placed in any number of inanimate objects, such as doorknobs or sofas. With the new technology, not only could “everything [become] responsive and reactive to the user,” but the system also could be made to “distinguish between âcategories’ of users, detecting whether a child, an adult or even a pet dog or cat is the one doing the touching,” says Carl Franzen of Talking Points Memo .