There’s an entire department of science that is devoted to turning versatile surfaces into sensors that can be utilized as a man-made substitute for pores and skin. These supplies might then be used to give robots a way of contact, and even to revive feeling for individuals with synthetic prostheses. Researchers on the College of Auckland have taken the idea in a barely totally different course after constructing a sq. of sentimental, stretchable rubber that pulls double-obligation as a keyboard. It is hoped that the know-how can be utilized to create foldable, rollable enter units, which reminds us of Nokia’s twisty-stretchy telephone idea from means again when.

Contained in the prototype (pictured), there is a three by three grid of squares that is enough to create a rudimentary directional management. Tucked inside, the keyboard has two units of sensors which are set towards one another at a ninety-diploma angle. When one of many zones is compressed, the 2 teams of sensors are then used to triangulate the place the strain is coming from, and relates that to a keypress. It is nonetheless early days as but, however because the system is made out of black rubber, we will think about that it will not be lengthy earlier than somebody begins producing their very own line of related fetishwear.

[Image Credit: Andreas Tairych]