14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is still working on a 3D Touch technology despite the fact that Nokia McLaren is long gone, and new evidence emerges every once in a while to confirm that at some point in the future, this feature could actually make it to the market.
This time, the company itself has demoed a new framework called “Pre-Touch Sensing for Mobile Interaction,” which seems to be the new name for Microsoft’s 3D Touch technology that could compete against Apple.
The iPhone maker is also offering 3D Touch capabilities on the latest iPhones and rumor has it that Microsoft is working to push this concept further with a completely new approach that would provide us with new and innovative ways to interact with mobile devices.
“Imagine a mobile device that intelligently anticipates your intended action even before you touch the screen,” Microsoft explains. “The research uses the phone’s ability to sense how you are gripping the device as well as when and where the fingers are approaching it.”
It adapts to how you use the phone
Basically, this technology allows devices to display on-screen controls before the user touches the display. For example, when playing a video, it’s enough to simply move the finger towards the screen to reveal playback controls. This way, options show up instantly and with just one touch you can pause or play a video.
Furthermore, this new demo shows that the system can adapt depending on the phone position and the way you hold the device.
“By allowing the interfaces to adapt to you, on the fly, they are always tailored to the specific context of how you are currently holding or using your phone,” the company explains.
At this point, this is just a project developed by Microsoft Research, but since 3D Touch systems have been around for a while in development stage at the company, it could actually make it to the market on a future model. The next device that should see daylight and that could possibly feature it is the Surface Phone, which, according to people close to the matter, could launch in April 2017.
