News: Computing
Future phones to use quantum physics
10.02.2010
'What're quantum mechanics?' 'I don't know. People who repair quantums, I suppose.' This little peice of dialogue from a Terry Pratchett novel may well sum up the majority's feeling on this particular field of science but with a new technology from a UK firm, quantum physics could soon be behind the handheld devices we use every day.
Yorkshire-based Peratech had developed a special pressure-sensitive material, which it has called Quantum Tunnelling Composite (QTC). This material is composed of spiky nanoparticles that touch but don't touch, or in quantum physics terminology, they undergo quantum mechanical tunnelling. This allows for the surface of the material to "feel" the exact pressure of a fingertip touch through electrical currents.
QTC has already been licensed to Japanese touch-screen maker Nissha, as well as a division of Samsung Mobile, reports the BBC.
An example of applying this technology to mobile devices could be where a light touch means scrolling slowly through a document whereas a heavier touch would speed up the scrolling process. Additionally, this pressure sensitivity translates well to robotics, and can be used to give robot limbs more "feeling".
By Marie Boran
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