Over the decade, we have seen how the computer has evolved to be more user friendly and to defy new paradigms in human-computer interface. Microsoft has come up with another ingenious idea of creating a magnetic interface to interact with the outside world. We have been typing on keyboards and clicking on mice for more than we can remember. This experimental new interface under development at Microsoft Research, Cambridge, UK could give us a completely new way to use our system.
How does this innovative system work?
Multi-touch and motion-sensing devices have recently emerged from research labs, offering new ways to operate computers. Microsoft's experimental tactile interface takes things further still, letting users interact by squashing, stretching, rolling, or rubbing.
At the base of the new device a "sensor tile" produces magnetic multiple fields above its surface. By detecting disturbances to these fields, the system can track the movement of a metal object across its surface, or the manipulation of a bladder filled with iron filings or a magnetic fluid. A user can drag a ball bearing across the surface to move a cursor across a computer's screen, or manipulate a ferrous fluid-filled bladder to sculpt 3D virtual objects.
The surface can easily be reconfigured to allow for different forms of input.The guys at MS Research have created arrays of 64 magnetic coils, each wrapped in a coiled wire, within a 100-square-centimeter sensor tile. In essence, these are modeled on an electric guitar setup, if you disrupt the field, this causes a current to be induced in the coil.
The researchers have also experimented with applying currents to the coils to induce physical effects on the objects placed on top of the sensor tile. This could allow an input device to also provide haptic force-feedback.
It's an interesting concept which extends multi-touch to something more tangible, as claimed by them. To have a surface that lets users manipulate different objects would be of great interest
Watch the magnetic interface at work here : Video(courtesy, Technology Review, MIT)
