In the future, typing on your phone could be a lot easier.
The most useless keyboard key
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have devised a way to bring haptic technology to mobile screens. The invention would create small vibrations to make typing more accurate through feedback.
“Many users still prefer the clicky feedback of tactile buttons because it makes for an easier and more engaging experience,” Craig Shultz, one of the scientists who worked on the project, told Lifewire in an email interview.
The secret to the new type of keyboard is water. The device uses electro-osmotic pumps, which can move fluids through electric fields rather than mechanical parts. These pumps are 1.5 millimeters thick and create pop-up buttons that are almost five millimeters high with enough pressure and stiffness to give them a solid feel when tapped.
