50 years later and with a long history behind it, smartphones could still surprise us. The Future Interfaces Group (FIG) of Carnegie Mellon University is working on "inflatable" physical keyboards, which "emerge" on the device screen when needed and disappear again when no longer needed.
Science fiction? Hand. He even presented a prototype.
What is the technology behind “inflatable” keyboards
This innovation is called Flat Panel Haptics and is under development for 15 years. The big breakthrough was the creation of a circuit just five millimeters thick thanks to a device called Embedded Electro-Osmotic Pump (EEOP). This system uses a particular substance, which swells when an electric current passes through it, to create rigid keys with a maximum height of five millimeters.
From prototype to reality
In his studio (that I link to you here), the research team used soft silicone to build the first prototypes. And they eventually managed to get screens with full QWERTY keyboards.
This technology could have important real-world applications. It could improve the experience of using smartphones for blind people, thanks to physical buttons that provide tactile feedback. And of course it could make mobile gaming more immersive, with more precise control and more satisfying tactile response than digital controls.
Will companies like it?
It's hard to say. Back in 2008, the BlackBerry Storm featured a touchscreen that doubled as a physical button, but this fix was nothing short of catastrophic. Since then, phone makers have eschewed physical buttons on touchscreens. However, Flat Panel Haptics technology could change this trend, offering a full keyboard and not a single button.
Of course, Carnegie Mellon still has its work cut out for it: the stability of the keys and the energy consumption of the system need to be improved. And maybe, just maybe, the “bouncy keys” work on larger surfaces, like those of a tablet.
We'll see if after 15 years of work the idea will be shelved or we will find "shape-shifting" devices capable of giving us the best of both the touchscreen and the physical buttons.
