multitouch

A recently discovered Apple patent reveals a significant possible change to the ultra-thin MacBook: replacing the physical keyboard with a touchpad similar to the existing Force Touch trackpad for mouse inputs. As usual with patents, this may not be indicative of what Apple has planned for future products, nor may this design ever see the light of day, but it's interesting to what could be possible if Apple takes its Force Touch technology to the next level.

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The idea of adding more functionality to the keys on your keyboard may sound like an annoyance in the making, but Synaptics might have just come with something that could really work. The company has just announced its SmartBar technology at Computex, which basically turns the top of the spacebar into a capacitive touch pad. Think of using touch-based gestures like pinching and swiping on your keyboard, a bit like Apple's recent patent that turns it into a giant trackpad, except only on the big, horizontal key.

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It appears the ultra-shallow keyboard keys on Apple's new 12-inch Retina MacBook were only the beginning. The company was granted a patent this week that may one day see a complete revolution in keyboard functions, possibly eliminating the need for a touchpad altogether. Dubbed a "fusion keyboard," the input device would still feature the mechanical keys we're used to today, but each one would have touch sensors on top, and they could each be pressed down to register multiple stages, enabling multitouch gesture support.

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Judging by the recent spate of announcements, we might be seeing a lot of in-vehicle infotainment announcements soon, probably at CES 2015 next month even. But while cars are getting smarter this way, they are also bound to get more expensive because of the addition of touchscreens. Automotive supplier Continental thinks it might have a better, cheaper option. Using infrared technology, any surface, even a non-capacitive display, can become a multi-touch input device that can be used even with gloves on.

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If you weren't impressed by the rest of the wares shown off today by Microsoft at their Surface 2 event, there's one accessory you must have missed. This is the Surface Remix Project - one of a line of devices that'll be coming from the company in the near future to make use of the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2's ability to work with quick-attach keyboard and touch accessories. Here we're aiming at touch-loving DJs with a drum machine vibe and intentions wholly musical.

UPDATE: This cover's name specifically is Music Cover, part of a Music Kit with its software aimed at musicians in the near future. This is, again, one of many Remix Project devices slated for the future.

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Graphing calculators haven't changed much over the years, but they don't really need to. Or do they? It turns out HP wants to completely revolutionize the graphing calculator, and has released a teaser video showing off its new Prime graphing calculator that sports a 3.5-inch multitouch display and a brushed aluminum body.

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Angry Birds on an 84-inch 4K tablet? Not quite, but if your iPad or Nexus 10 simply isn't big enough or high-res enough, MyMultitouch has an 84-inch beast to offer instead. The Germany company is showing off its biggest multitouch table/display to-date at CeBIT, a vast 3.840 x 2,160 Ultra HD screen called the Alvaro GIANT capable of running Windows, Android or most anything else, and we couldn't resist getting our fingers all over it.

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LG has further detailed its multitouch display targeted at Windows 8 users wanting to add touch to their desktop experience, the LG ET83, following in the footsteps of the company's V325 AIO PC. The 23-inch monitor supports up to 10-finger multitouch for all of Windows 8's gestures, and uses an IPS LCD panel for better viewing angles and colors.

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Samsung has been cleared of infringing Apple multitouch patents by a court in the Netherlands, ruling that Galaxy smartphones and tablets aren't in fact trampling over the Cupertino firm's technology. The judgement today, reported by Reuters, follows similar decisions by courts in the UK and Germany, most recently at the Mannheim Regional Court in late September.

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Vizio has updated its PC range with a pair of touch-capable all-in-ones, adding 10-finger multitouch to ready them for Windows 8, while also tweaking its notebooks with new trackpads. The new 24- and 27-inch All-in-One Touch PC models offer Intel Core processors, like their non-touch brethren we reviewed recently, as well as 1080p Full HD displays and 2.1 audio systems.

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The last thing in the world I would've ever believed could be turned into a touch sensor would be a plant. However, that is exactly what Disney's Pittsburgh research center has done in a project called Botanicus Interacticus. I can only imagine a full-size attraction at Disneyland or Disneyworld packed with touch sensitive plants.

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Microsoft has finalized its acquisition of multitouch-magic firm Perceptive Pixel, bringing the complex infinite-point touchscreen developer in-house with the Windows maker. Announced last month, the deal hasn't been fleshed out with details as to exactly what Microsoft intends to do with Perceptive Pixel, but company founder, president and CTO Jeff Han will be reporting as part of the Office team.

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