Buttons that morph out of the surface of the device.

#1

Post by jamesbritt » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 1:03 AM UTC

Buttons that morph out of the surface of the device.
tactustechnology.com

Re: Buttons that morph out of the surface of the device.

#2

Post by Palomides » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 1:34 AM UTC

I don't see any info on how it works? the website is just justifications for tactile interaction

Re: Buttons that morph out of the surface of the device.

#3

Post by akavi » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 1:37 AM UTC

Judging by the video, it looks like the layout of the buttons is fixed, only their presence is toggleable.

If so, that's a bit of a bummer.

Re: Buttons that morph out of the surface of the device.

#4

Post by kpozin » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 1:41 AM UTC

Here's a brief article about Tactus: http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/5/3064674/tactus-technology-p...

Looks like the button locations are fixed for now, but they're hoping to make them adjustable in the future.

Re: Buttons that morph out of the surface of the device.

#5

Post by earbitscom » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 1:43 AM UTC

akavi wrote: post #3

Judging by the video, it looks like the layout of the buttons is fixed, only their presence is toggleable. If so, that's a bit of a bummer.

A bummer. Now, that is classic.

I remember using public payphones just a little over a decade ago. One time some kids had put Vaseline on the earpiece. That was a fun time.

Now we have a phone in our pocket that we can talk to and have it do nearly anything. By next year, it will have buttons when we want and no buttons when we don't.

Vaseline on your ear is a bummer. This button-no-button stuff is not a bummer.

Re: Buttons that morph out of the surface of the device.

#6

Post by wtracy » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 1:43 AM UTC

akavi wrote: post #3

Judging by the video, it looks like the layout of the buttons is fixed, only their presence is toggleable. If so, that's a bit of a bummer.

You should still be able to dynamically change the symbols printed on those buttons. This still looks exciting to me. :-)

Re: Buttons that morph out of the surface of the device.

#7

Post by utlanning » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 1:57 AM UTC

earbitscom wrote: post #5

akavi wrote: post #3

Judging by the video, it looks like the layout of the buttons is fixed, only their presence is toggleable. If so, that's a bit of a bummer.

A bummer. Now, that is classic. I remember using public payphones just a little over a decade ago. One time some kids had put Vaseline on the earpiece. That was a fun time. Now we have a phone in our pocket that we can talk to and have it do nearly anything. By next year, it will have buttons when we want and no buttons when we don't. Vaseline on your ear is a bummer. This button-no-button stuff is not a bummer.

I think your post was tongue-in-cheek, and it is maybe one of my favorite HN posts ever. That said, I get a little bummed that there are no Back to the Future 2-style hoverboards, that I don't have a personal flying car, and that I still have to shower every day. I'd love a polymorphic phone screen, and am bummed that this display isn't that. Just out of curiosity, I rubbed some Vaseline in my ear just now, and must admit that it is more of a bummer than the lack of polymorphic phone screens.

"Everything is amazing, and nobody's happy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk

Re: Buttons that morph out of the surface of the device.

#8

Post by JumpCrisscross » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 2:04 AM UTC

akavi wrote: post #3

Judging by the video, it looks like the layout of the buttons is fixed, only their presence is toggleable. If so, that's a bit of a bummer.

Even if you couldn't have overlapping pre-determined button fields for the dialer, apps, browser, etc., just having the keyboard, even in one configuration, would still be highly functional.

Re: Buttons that morph out of the surface of the device.

#9

Post by mieubrisse » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 2:05 AM UTC

earbitscom wrote: post #5

akavi wrote: post #3

Judging by the video, it looks like the layout of the buttons is fixed, only their presence is toggleable. If so, that's a bit of a bummer.

A bummer. Now, that is classic. I remember using public payphones just a little over a decade ago. One time some kids had put Vaseline on the earpiece. That was a fun time. Now we have a phone in our pocket that we can talk to and have it do nearly anything. By next year, it will have buttons when we want and no buttons when we don't. Vaseline on your ear is a bummer. This button-no-button stuff is not a bummer.

I had similar sentiments as the OP.

I feel I was just humbled in about the most effective way possible.

Re: Buttons that morph out of the surface of the device.

#10

Post by _delirium » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 2:07 AM UTC

earbitscom wrote: post #5

akavi wrote: post #3

Judging by the video, it looks like the layout of the buttons is fixed, only their presence is toggleable. If so, that's a bit of a bummer.

A bummer. Now, that is classic. I remember using public payphones just a little over a decade ago. One time some kids had put Vaseline on the earpiece. That was a fun time. Now we have a phone in our pocket that we can talk to and have it do nearly anything. By next year, it will have buttons when we want and no buttons when we don't. Vaseline on your ear is a bummer. This button-no-button stuff is not a bummer.

I think you might have to go 20 years to find that kind of difference. A decade ago, at least among the techie Americans that are the typical HN reference point, we had PalmPilot smartphones. Now we have some other brand of smartphones. Soon to have magical buttons, but otherwise not that huge of a revolution. The #1 thing to do with them a decade ago was to browse Google Maps and restaurant-review sites while away from a computer. Guess what the #1 thing to do with them in 2012 is?