劍橋大學研發“非接觸式觸摸屏”

英國劍橋大學的研究人員研發了一種“非接觸式觸摸屏”。這種觸摸屏利用人工智能技術，在使用者用手觸碰屏幕前，預測其意圖。這種屏幕最初是為汽車設計的，但研發屏幕的工程師稱，它也可在疫情期間被廣泛應用。這種“預測性觸摸”技術可以加裝在現有屏幕上，可以用來防止病原體在超市收銀臺、自動取款機和火車站售票終端機的觸摸屏上傳播。

研究表明，新冠病毒可以在塑料和玻璃上停留兩小時至一周時間，這意味著公共場所的觸摸屏需要不斷消毒以防病毒傳播。

英國劍橋大學工程系的西蒙·戈德西爾說：“觸摸屏和其他交互式顯示屏是大多數人每天頻繁使用的物品，但人們可能很難在運動狀態中使用，無論是駕駛汽車還是在跑步時用手機播放音樂。我們還知道，某些病原體可以通過物品的表面傳播，因此這項技術可以幫助降低這種傳播風險。”

這項技術的工作原理是，在用戶開始用手觸摸屏幕前，預測他們想要觸摸屏幕的哪一區域。人工智能和傳感器通過追蹤情景信息（比如用戶的個人資料、環境狀況和眼動跟蹤）實時判斷用戶的意圖。

其他非接觸式技術還包括手勢控制，最新一代谷歌和三星智能手機以及一些智能電視都已使用手勢控制。觸覺反饋技術還提供了一種與數字設備和環境進行交互的方式，但它仍在研發之中，而且尚未展現出廣泛的商業用途。

“非接觸式觸摸屏”研發項目負責人巴沙爾·艾哈邁德說：“相較于較為基礎的空中互動技術或常規手勢識別技術，我們的技術有很多優勢，因為它支持與傳統界面設計的直覺互動，不需要用戶進行任何學習。它完全依靠系統來預測用戶意圖，并可以與新舊觸摸屏以及其他交互顯示技術融為一體。”

Cambridge University researchers have developed a “no-touch touchscreen”that uses artificial intelligence to predict a user’s intention before their hand reaches the display.The screen was originally designed for use in cars, but the engineers who built it claim it could also have widespread applications during a pandemic.The “predictive touch” technology can be retrofitted to existing displays and could be used to prevent the spread of pathogens on touchscreens at supermarket check-outs, ATMs and ticket terminals at railway stations.

Studies have shown that coronavirus can remain on plastic and glass for anywhere between two hours and a week, meaning touchscreens in public places need to be constantly disinfected to prevent transmission.

“Touchscreens and other interactive displays are something most people use multiple times per day, but they can be difficult to use while in motion,whether that’s driving a car or hanging the music on your phone while you’re running,” said Simon Godsill from the university’s department of engineering. “We also know that certain pathogens can be transmitted via surfaces, so this technology could help reduce the risk for that type of transmission.”

The technology works by predicting where a user intends to touch the screen as they begin the hand movement towards the screen. A combination of AI and sensors determine the user’s intent in real time by also tracking contextual information like the user’s profile, environmental conditions and an eyegaze tracker.

Other touch-free technologies include gesture control, which can be found on the latest generation of Google and Samsung smartphones, as well as some smart TVs.

Haptic feedback technology also offers a way to interact with digital devices and environments, though it still needs developing and is yet to see broad commercial use.

“Our technology has numerous advantages over more basic mid-air interaction techniques or conventional gesture recognition, because it supports intuitive interactions with legacy interface designs and doesn’t require any learning on the part of the user,” said Dr Bashar Ahmad, who led the development of the touchless screen.

“It fundamentally relies on the system to predict what the user intends and can be incorporated into both new and existing touchscreens and other interactive display technologies.”