Inflatable OLED keyboards revolutionize smartphone technology.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University's Future Interfaces Group have developed a technology called Flat Panel Haptics that allows for inflatable buttons on an OLED screen, creating a physical keyboard on a smartphone while keeping the touchscreen intact. The technology uses an Embedded Electro-Osmotic Pump to manipulate a special pumping fluid, allowing the pumps to inflate a rigid button on top up to five millimeters in height. The inflatable keyboard could have real-world applications, such as helping blind people use smartphones and providing tactile feedback for mobile gaming. However, there are still limitations to the technology, such as durability and power consumption.