Tag: Capacitive

If you prefer to draw or write on the screen of your tablet with a stylus instead of a fingertip, then you’ll definitely want to check out the AluPen. This sturdy aluminum stylus has a precision tip and works with the vast majority of capacitive touch screens, including iPads and iPhones.

In recent years, Apple has started following trends instead of popularizing them. There’s nothing wrong with that, but what’s wrong is it’s done nothing to fix the weaknesses of the designs they’re adopting. For instance, like Samsung and other smartphone makers Apple hasn’t come up with a good way to make its large phones easier to use with one hand.

Jay Silver is back on Kickstarter with an even smaller version of his simple but versatile USB keypad, the MaKey MaKey. Aside from its smaller form the Makey Makey Go also has a keyring and a magnet. 

Watch out Clapper; there’s a new switch in town. iOn is a capacitive switch that lets you toggle lights and other devices simply by waving your hand in front of it. You can even extend the switch’s coverage or hide it altogether by putting a conductive object on top of it.

The printed word is dying, but the printed keyboard is alive and kicking. And no, you won’t need a 3D printer to make one. A company called Novalia has made an incredibly thin Bluetooth keyboard made of photo paper, conductive ink and its proprietary electronic module.

Because of its size and form, Google Glass has a limited – albeit seemingly capable – user interface: touch gestures, head gestures and voice commands. Even though Glass’ display is visible at all times, there are times when it would be impractical, insensitive or downright impossible to interact with it.

Not content with turning inanimate objects into touch sensitive interfaces, Disney Research is now developing a noninvasive technology they call Botanicus Interacticus, which turns plants into touch sensitive input devices.

The Leap motion controller is one of the most hyped gadgets unveiled this year, and it really is promising. But if you can’t wait until next year to have a 3D tracking interface, MAKE knows a way to make one using readily available tools.

Several days ago we saw Disney’s plan for turning everyday objects – including humans – into touch-sensitive interfaces. The MaKey MaKey is a lot simpler than that, but what it does is still very impressive. Any object that can conduct “at least a tiny bit of electricity” – fruits, Play-Doh, humans, water, etc.

Disney’s Research Hub recently presented a new technology that can make a variety of materials touch-sensitive. I wasn’t even aware that Disney had a network of research labs, but after seeing what their team of nerds are capable of I’m never going to forget about them.

Even though we’re headed towards the warmer summer months, there’s still that random cold spell that makes it nearly impossible to leave the house without gloves on. This becomes a problem when you have to use a touchscreen device, simply tapping or swiping at the screen with a gloved finger makes nothing happen.

There are basically two kinds of styluses available. The ones with a thin tip, that allow you to write, draw, and select stuff on a resistive screen, and the ones with a somewhat larger tip, that mimic the way that you use your finger, designed for capacitive touch screens.

All sorts of attempts have been made to create “the perfect stylus” for drawing on the iPad, with mixed success. But this is the first time I’ve seen a devices designed to let you use your tablet like a painter’s canvas.

If you live in a cold environment where you have to wear gloves during the winter and fall, or work somewhere that you need gloves working devices that use a capacitive touchscreen is usually impossible. The problem is that capacitive touchscreens need the conductivity of your skin to work.