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Synaptics introduces 10-finger multitouch

Published on 23rd July 2009 by Gareth Halfacree

The ClearPad 3000 brings ten-finger multitouch tracking to devices with screen sizes of up to 8 inches.

A new touchpad from Synaptics promises the ability to track ten individual points of contact – potentially meaning future multitouch implementations could track the digits of both hands.

As reported over on Gizmodo, the company is looking to bring its capacitive ClearPad 3000 touchscreen tech to market in high-end smartphones and future hand-held gaming systems.

The new touchpads bring interesting possibilities, as the company claims that the use of 48 separate sensing channels and improved power management capabilities over the older ClearPad 2000 range will allow the technology to scale to screen sizes of 8 inches – introducing the potential for an advanced multitouch netbook.

As the technology is capable of tracking ten points of contact at once, Synaptics holds high hopes for its use in future gaming devices: the company claims that the ClearPad 3000 allows for “dual/multi-player gaming devices” capable of differentiating between the hands of two separate players. How usable a multi-player device with an 8” screen would be is, perhaps, questionable – but it's an interesting development nonetheless.

While the company hopes that the ClearPad 3000 will prove to be the flagship product included in the next generation of mobile devices, it hasn't forgotten the little people either: for applications where multitouch is less important than accuracy it has created the ClearPad 1000. Designed to improve the clarity of OLED displays when used as a touchscreen layer, and offering zero borders – allowing the tracking of a single digit right up to the edge of the display – it could well prove a hit with simpler devices.

Do you think that multitouch, multi-player capable systems could prove to be the future of mobile gaming, or is ten finger tracking overkill for an 8in screen? Share your thoughts over in the forums.

17 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

Matticus 23rd July 2009, 11:31

I am just thinking of a dual screen netbook/small laptop. Like a netbook/small laptop DS, bottom screen can be an onscreen keyboard and also display what you want.

Cptn-Inafinus 23rd July 2009, 12:00

I won't buy in until it supports at least 11 points! Got too think of those Polydactyly's out there.

Bonzo45 23rd July 2009, 13:04

Clever piece of hardware, not sure about it's uses though! Perhaps 8 inches is too small for two player games! Maybe it could spawn a new touch screen handheld gaming console, put 10 points is a bit OTT IMHO.

Surely you can't coordinate 10 of your fingers to do different things on the screen, the technology is too good for the human brain.

perplekks45 23rd July 2009, 13:23

10 finger tracking on smart phones? Nice but how would I hold it then?

Aracos 23rd July 2009, 13:25

Sounds fun and worth a look, too bad you'll get fingerprints all over your screen though >.<

p3n 23rd July 2009, 13:31

How would you keep your palm from touching it for x hours usage? Terrible...

Isitari 23rd July 2009, 14:04

Minority Report here we come :D

dyzophoria 23rd July 2009, 15:59

Quote:

Sounds fun and worth a look, too bad you'll get fingerprints all over your screen though >.<

you can just wipe it if it gets dirty though :), I wont be surprised if ways are found to lessen this problem in the near future, fingerprints for me is the most least problem i will have in multi touch devices

B[x] 23rd July 2009, 16:44

How do you see the screen with 10 fingers in the way?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matticus
I am just thinking of a dual screen netbook/small laptop. Like a netbook/small laptop DS, bottom screen can be an onscreen keyboard and also display what you want.

I would not be a fan. Virtual keyboards on phones these days are enough of a pain. I would have to see how that would translate to typing out an actual document rather than a 140-character text. I need my physical buttons.

dicobalt 23rd July 2009, 23:47

The only personal use I can think is for RTS games. The lack of feedback and tactile variation makes it limited in use. There is place for multitouch sensors but that is on a separate device, not in the screen itself. Think of the touchpad on a laptop only much bigger and far more accurate. I would have it slide out from under the keyboard and be at least 3x larger then a laptop pad. As you move your fingers on the pad you can see overlays on the screen representing fingers. This implementation would be cheaper, simpler, and your hand wouldn't be obscuring the view of the screen while causing fingerprints. Furthmore you wouldn't get karate kid wax on wax off cramps and you wouldn't need to stare downwards at the table like an idiot with bad posture.

I-E-D 24th July 2009, 10:51

On screen keyboard sounds cool, cos you could drag the little keys around to spell words, and to get the best config for you!

ChaosDefinesOrder 25th July 2009, 01:20

no-one else think that this sounds like the potential tech behind a future Optimus touch gaming keyboard?

Ross1 25th July 2009, 23:15

with a finger or thumb on the screen, a large part of it is already blocked. this just seems to be a way to completely obscure any possible view you have of the screen, which will lead to blind fingering. this is often quite messy, and isnt a very pleasant experience.

obviously if you are using your 10 fingers and 2 thumbs on the screen, the device will be held in your mouth. some people may be able to hold it with their feet, and anyone who has an extra arm will be ecstatic that they finally have a use for a previously unneeded limb.

Timmy_the_tortoise 26th July 2009, 01:53

How is this news?

I thought Microsoft Surface was able to handle 50 users at a time.

perplekks45 26th July 2009, 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross1
... which will lead to blind fingering. this is often quite messy, and isnt a very pleasant experience.

TMI, thank you very much. :p

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross1
obviously if you are using your 10 fingers and 2 thumbs on the screen,...

You REALLY must be special!

Gareth Halfacree 26th July 2009, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy_the_tortoise
I thought Microsoft Surface was able to handle 50 users at a time.

Microsoft Surface is not a capacitive touchscreen. Nor is it possible to integrate Surface into a portable device - it requires cameras and infra-red emitters along with a projector.

Timmy_the_tortoise 26th July 2009, 16:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gareth Halfacree
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timmy_the_tortoise
I thought Microsoft Surface was able to handle 50 users at a time.
Microsoft Surface is not a capacitive touchscreen. Nor is it possible to integrate Surface into a portable device - it requires cameras and infra-red emitters along with a projector.

Right. I actually knew that, I guess I just forgot. It was a bit stupid of me...