The Shape-Shifting Display: A Breakthrough in Touch Technology
The University of Colorado Boulder has developed a groundbreaking shape-shifting display that promises to revolutionize touch technology. Unlike conventional displays, this unique device can morph and deform, allowing users to create 3D designs, write interactive haikus, and even experience the sensation of holding someone’s hand from a distance.
Introducing the Shape-Shifting Display
The shape-shifting display is the result of extensive research conducted by a team of engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder. Consisting of a 10-by-10 grid of soft robotic “muscles,” this display is capable of responding to external pressure and creating intricate patterns. It is able to generate scrolling text and even shake objects like a chemistry beaker filled with fluid.
However, what sets this display apart is its ability to provide the sense of touch in a digital world that has long been lacking this crucial element.
The Missing Element: Touch
In an era where technology has rapidly advanced to include audio and video, touch has remained absent. Brian Johnson, one of the study’s lead authors, explains, “We started with sending text, then audio, and now video, but we’re still missing touch.”
The researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder aim to change this by incorporating touch into their shape-shifting technology.
A Glimpse into the Future
The prototype display developed by the University of Colorado Boulder is just the beginning. With future advancements, similar technologies could lead to sensory gloves for virtual gaming or smart conveyer belts that adapt to different objects.
Mantas Naris, co-lead author of the study, envisions endless possibilities: “You could arrange these cells into various shapes and combinations. The potential applications are limitless.”
The Origins of the Project
The shape-shifting display project originated from an exploration of synthetic organs for medical applications. Researchers, led by Mark Rentschler, professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering, aimed to develop squishy organs made entirely of silicone-like materials. During this process, the idea of a tabletop display emerged, eventually leading to the creation of the shape-shifting display we see today.
The display, about the size of a Scrabble game board, consists of small squares arranged in a grid. Each square is an individual HASEL actuator, made of plastic pouches that resemble tiny accordions. By passing an electric current through these pouches, fluid shifts and causes the accordion to expand and jump up.
In addition, the actuators include magnetic sensors, allowing users to interact with the display using a magnetic wand.
The Advantages of the Shape-Shifting Display
While there have been other smart tablets on the market, the University of Colorado Boulder’s shape-shifting display offers several distinct advantages. It is softer, requires less space, and operates at a much higher speed. Each robotic muscle can activate up to 50 times per second, providing users with a more responsive and dynamic experience.
The researchers’ current focus is on shrinking the actuators to increase the display’s resolution. This would enable the rendering of articles in Braille on a phone screen, expanding accessibility for visually impaired individuals.
The team is also working on an inverted display design, which would allow engineers to develop gloves that provide a tactile experience in virtual reality.
Moreover, the display boasts exceptional noise reduction properties, ensuring a serene and undisturbed user experience.
With their groundbreaking shape-shifting display, the University of Colorado Boulder has opened the doors to a new era of touch technology. The possibilities for this innovative technology are limitless, offering exciting prospects for various industries and applications.
For more information, watch the video here.