Touchscreen Thimbles

We are interested in the challenge that the ever-increasing use of capacitive touchscreens represent. This is because they rely on the electrical properties of the human skin, which changes over time, often becoming less conductive with age. So, we consider the potentially increasing problem this would represent, as a frame from which to better understand the design requirements for developing solutions. Conscious of the need to retain a sense of touch, rather than a stylus with a conductive tip or gloves with conductive finger tips, we then propose suitable thimbles for touchscreens. We conceptualised a touchscreen thimble to be worn on the body that would maintain a sense of touch. So a pros-palliare, rather than a prosthesis.

The design of the touchscreen thimble consists of two essential parts, a rigid cylindrical base, and a thin conductive fabric for the finger tip. Developing a proof of concept prototype, with Jeroen Blom, addressing the limitations we observed with existing approaches.

The front thimble showing a rigid base made from antler combined with a grey conductive fabric tip.