Extending the Touchscreen

Michael Knuepfel

Beyond finger presses, are there new ways we can use touchscreen
technology to interface with tangible objects?



Over the past three years there has been an explosion in the use of
capacitance touchscreens in smartphones and tablets like the iPhone
and iPad. Capacitance touchscreens work by detecting the electrical
signals from your fingers as they come into contact with the screen.
Finger presses can be simulated with conductive materials, allowing a
wide range of physical, mechanical, and electrical devices to
communicate through the touchscreen interface. This can make
touchscreen interactions more tactile and physical and potentially
more expressive and fun.