Trackpads just got smaller-really small. Massachusetts Institution of Technology (MIT) has created a new trackpad, NailO, which fits on the tip of the user's fingernail. The pointing device contains a Bluetooth chip and a battery.
The MIT Media Lab's tiny trackpad also includes a capactive-touch surface consisting of a layer of tiny sensors, and a microcontroller circuit board. Users position the NailO on their fingernail and then use it as a pointer.
Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao, lead author of a MIT study, says that the NailO is low-key and intuitive. It was designed for times when your hands are busy, such as when cooking.
Kao explains that the fingertip is a very "natural" location for the trackpad, according to Tech Times. People have "a lot" of gestures that include fingers.
NailO uses its capacitive surface to support gesture recognition, and can be linked to a mobile device. Users can then perform functions such as pinching, zooming, and swiping.
The accuracy rate of NailO is currently about 92 percent when recognizing five different gestures. However, researchers say that it is very sensitive to being activated by accident.
Another key benefit of NailO is that it is has high aesthetic appeal. Users can keep it hidden or use it as nail art by matching it with clothing, according to American Register.
The MIT researchers have already developed an app for the NailO. It allows users to input punctuation and emoticons.
Kao and her team are still fine-tuning the device, and particularly to make it smaller. They are searching for overseas manufacturers that can produce a half millimeter-thick battery.
The NailO could be sold commercially as soon as about three years.