Next-gen touchscreen displays may support gloves
Once upon a time, it was possible to dial a cell phone in cold weather without removing your gloves, provided the gloves weren't too fat and the physical buttons on the phone weren't too small. In this modern age of smartphones dominated by capacitive touchscreens, it takes either bare skin or perhaps a refrigerated sausage in order to activate the virtual controls.
That may change as soon as next summer when the iPhone 5 is expected to arrive. It's entirely possible that the next iPhone (and its iOS companions) will utilize a new touchscreen technology that's being developed by Hitachi Displays. The new touch display can detect both capacitive elements, like fingers, and insulators, like fabric and plastic. That means a gloved finger or even a stylus could be used for input. The new Hitachi sensors are expected to be available in sizes from 3 to 10 inches, so they could be used for iPods, iPhones, and iPads.
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Once upon a time, it was possible to dial a cell phone in cold weather without removing your gloves, provided the gloves weren't too fat...
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Well Apple may be on the right track, but lets see how long it takes for this type technology to hit the market. In the mean time, for those of us who dont like to spend $300+ every year on new phone upgrades, check out GLIDER GLOVES (www.glidergloves.com). This is my solution to the problem..
November 16 2010 at 2:05 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI wear thin gloves with leather palms and fingers, and my iPhone registers through them just fine.
I also wear a thin glove while snowboarding that has a synthetic rubber/acrylic palm that's very stick and durable, and it senses my touch with those as well.
Anyone notice under multi-touch input it says '2 or 3 points'?
That's a whole lot less than the 5 or 6 my iPad/iPhone 4 can pick up.
Why not have a blowout on these $17.99 beauties??? http://www.agloves.com/
November 11 2010 at 10:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyTo be honest, I always had to remove my gloves when using my prior cell phones.
Of course, I did not wear thin gloves... I find those don't keep my hands warm.
DECATHLON (in the uk and europoe) make a ROCKRIDER GLOVE for cycling,,, and guesss what... yes they work wit hthe iPhone touch screen, for smart people you lot are really backwards I've had mine for th past 2 years...
November 11 2010 at 10:25 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySilk gloves work fine on capacitative touchscreens without needing to remove them :)
November 11 2010 at 10:17 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyCurrently works through latex gloves already.
November 11 2010 at 10:06 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThis is my solution to operating my iPhone in the cold.
http://www.amazon.com/Tavo-TG002-BL-L-Playpoint-Technology-Touchpad/dp/B000LUBCAG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289485266&sr=8-1
"it takes either bare skin or perhaps a refrigerated sausage in order to activate the virtual controls"
Or simple leather gloves. Leather is skin. As such it has remarkably similar properties to... skin.
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