If the
Storm 2 seriously uses newfangled piezoelectrics to provide localized tactile response on its display -- something the original
Storm lacked with just a single clicky button mounted underneath the screen's center point -- then how come we're coming to find out we've got four buttons mounted near the corners this time around? At this point, this picture posted of the Storm 2's sensitive innards probably raises more questions than it answers -- we're clearly looking at four buttons here, which as
CrackBerry says would facilitate the "multi-press" necessary to engage key modifiers like Alt just as you would on a regular keyboard. The problem is that this doesn't even being to explain how or why the screen hardens up like a rock when the phone is off, because the four buttons plus traditional capacitive touch sensitivity would realistically get the job done without alien technology. We're looking forward to a thorough briefing from RIM once the phone gains some official recognition, but until then, let the theories fly.
[Thanks, Doughy]
posted Aug 25th 2009 8:59AM
That's pretty amazing still.
If you would have looked at your comments from the May 15th Storm 2 story, you would have noticed that I already stated this 3 months ago.
This all seems very straightforward to me.
This looks exactly like the underside of the Motorola ROKR E8's keypad. In other words, it's localized haptics. Localized haptics 100% explains the spongy / stiff-when-off thing. If you've ever used a Motorola ROKR E8, you should know exactly what I mean.
It needs the "buttons" under the display for the same reason there was one under the original Storm's display: so that it can register a touch vs. a press as distinct actions. RIM did all that work on the OS to support that, and it's still a great, unique, innovative feature in the industry. They're not going to give up on that aspect of SurePress.
You need four "buttons" (as opposed to one) because localized haptics only works if the screen is attached to the body *only* via the four piezo elements at the corners. If you also physically connect the screen to the body anywhere else, I imagine it would dampen and ruin the haptic effect (which relies on very precise, carefully tuned vibrations.) It's the same reason a tuning fork doesn't work if you're touching one of the tongs.
I was just trying to figure out where I seen something like that screen before and you just reminded me!!! I had the E8 and i kept trying to figure out how it felt like butting when the phone was on but it felt hard as diamond when the phone was off!!
thank you; i was wondering when someone would bring up the rokr e8 as being extremely similar technology (if not identical), as i own(ed) one also and kept thinking this "new" storm 2 stuff was the same thing.
Still a wanna be iPhone!!! :D
I believe its called Piezo Electronics.
When an electrical stimulus (your finger) pushes on the screen, the surface softens up. When no contact is made it hardens it.
Imagine a sponge underneath glass, when you touch the glass it causes the sponge to soften up, when no contact is made, the sponge hardens.
Im pretty sure I read somewhere online regarding the storm 2.
These are not buttons! Judging by their size, these are typical of piezo tranducers...
The big silver discs are piezo elements to create the haptic effect.
The small circles centered ON TOP of the piezo elements - with what look like small interlocking fingers - are button components.
@Rich, yes I see that now. Perhaps they are using a combination of piezo transducers and physical buttons (without detent - like used in membrane keyboards)?
did i miss something? in the video posted on August 23rd, the guy demoing the phone clearly states that the screen's rigidity while the screen is off or in standby mode is due to the lack of electrical current being sent through the device. now you all seem baffled by this 'newfangled'/'voodoo' technology.
oddly enough, another post was made 4 hours after this one (1pm today) which states "However, when the device is powered off (or in standby mode we assume), the screen stays put, as there isn't an actual mechanism to move the screen like there was in the original Storm." did you guys forget viewing and posting said video? if so, can i have some of what you're smoking? ;-)