Smartphones use significant touchscreens on the entrance as a valuable tactile interface. However, our hands naturally wrap about the back of the mobile phone, way too. This location is underutilized as an interface, but the designers of BackTrack discovered a way to transform that.
The strategy is uncomplicated. The task video clip notes that conductive tape can be positioned on a multitouch touchscreen, permitting touches to be browse at a remote spot. Having this principle further, BackTrack is effective by making a 2D matrix on the back of the cell phone, and connecting this matrix to a collection of pads in a row on the entrance touchscreen. Then, touches on the back touchpad can be read through by the existing touchscreen on the entrance display screen.
Executing this in follow requires the use of extravagant transparent electrodes and versatile connections. Nevertheless, the staff at the rear of Backtrack had been capable to create their passive rear touchpad in a formfactor that suits into a simple mobile phone scenario. It can then be employed to perform game titles or use interface with the cellphone in other techniques.
We completely count on phone producers to commence generating interfaces that use the back area of the cell phone. Apple have already explored this with the rarely-talked about again-tapping aspect. Applying a total 2D touchpad on the rear could promptly grow to be a great stage of difference for the to start with handset company to get it proper. Video clip soon after the crack.
[Thanks to Itay for the tip!]