Fingers can detect nano-scale wrinkles even on a seemingly smooth surface

Post by sp332 » Tue, Jan 14, 2014, 5:47 PM UTC

ClementM wrote: post #4

The title is a bit misleading though. Though it would be real cool, saying we can detect molecule size pattern does not mean we could read Braille alphabet on molecule size dots. The eye can detect nanometer size patterns: we can make the difference between blue light ( radiation with a 400 nanometers wave length ) and red light ( radiation with a 800 nanometers wave length ). Does not mean we can see nanometer size…

Post by alister » Tue, Jan 14, 2014, 5:59 PM UTC

ClementM wrote: post #4

The title is a bit misleading though. Though it would be real cool, saying we can detect molecule size pattern does not mean we could read Braille alphabet on molecule size dots. The eye can detect nanometer size patterns: we can make the difference between blue light ( radiation with a 400 nanometers wave length ) and red light ( radiation with a 800 nanometers wave length ). Does not mean we can see nanometer size…

Post by stevenrace » Tue, Jan 14, 2014, 6:04 PM UTC

reticulated wrote: post #15

stevenrace wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Simply put, glass is molecularly geometric - building actuated buttons into the glass itself isn't very probable. But a film of actuated buttons could be added much like with capacitive touch sensors today. Microfluidics is near the 100nm range today. Throw in a bit of ferrofluid and something like this is at least plausible. The challenge is in making all this transparent. The microfluidic channels would need to not…

You might also find this video [1] interesting. Although it's not clear how far this company has actually got with the technology. [1] http://vimeo.com/43431035

Post by taejo » Tue, Jan 14, 2014, 7:10 PM UTC

hereonbusiness wrote: post #20

vanderZwan wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, that is already one of many options of haptic feedback being explored actually: > A new technique that does not require actuators is called reverse-electrovibration. A weak current is sent from a device on the user through the object they are touching to the ground. The oscillating electric field around the skin on their finger tips creates a variable sensation of friction depending on the waveform, frequency, a…

It seems that I've got years of experience with third generation haptic technology then. If you plugin a laptop into an outlet that is not properly grounded and move your fingers across metal surfaces of the thing, one can experience it first hand. A sensation of friction, like moving your fingers over ripples because of the current running through them. This should work with a lot of electrical appliances that have…

Post by bjornsing » Tue, Jan 14, 2014, 7:22 PM UTC

alister wrote: post #23

ClementM wrote: post #4

The title is a bit misleading though. Though it would be real cool, saying we can detect molecule size pattern does not mean we could read Braille alphabet on molecule size dots. The eye can detect nanometer size patterns: we can make the difference between blue light ( radiation with a 400 nanometers wave length ) and red light ( radiation with a 800 nanometers wave length ). Does not mean we can see nanometer size…

As another (minor) clarification to the article, where it says: If your finger was the size of the Earth, you could feel the difference between houses from cars I think it would be easier to visualize this way: If the Earth was the size of an orange, your finger could feel the difference between houses from cars

  2 nm Diameter of a DNA Alpha helix

  4 nm Globular Protein

  6 nm microfilaments

  7 nm thickness cell membranes

 20 nm Ribosome

 25 nm Microtubule

 30 nm Small virus (Picornaviruses)

 30 nm Rhinoviruses

 50 nm Nuclear pore

 100 nm HIV