未来的触摸科技或成主流

Apple Inc.'s iPhone revolutionized the mobile phone with easy-to-use touch-screen technology that allows users to surf the Web, tap out messages or control any number of inventive applications. But the iPhone and the touch-screen handsets every major phone maker has since come out with have only scratched the surface of the potential of touch.
苹果公司(Apple Inc.)的iPhone无疑是移动电话行业的革命性产品，其便于使用的触摸屏技术可以让用户浏览网络，敲打短信息或者操控任何数量的新颍应用软件。但是，iPhone以及之后任何主要移动电话制造商推出的触摸屏手机都只是揭开了具有无限可能的触摸科技的冰山一角而已。

The next generation of touch technology, now in development, promises to be even more intuitive and user-friendly. 'All the work is on improving the speed of devices, the reliability and how they interact with humans,' says Chris Ard, director of marketing for touch technology at semiconductor maker Atmel Corp., based in San Jose, Calif.
目前正在开发当中的下一代触摸屏科技承诺将为用户带来更加直观和友好的体验。位于加利福利亚洲圣何塞的半导体制造商Atmel Corp.的触摸科技营销总监克里斯•阿德(Chris Ard)表示，所有的工作都集中在改进设备的速度、可靠性以及它们如何与人类互动方面。

Among the highlights: Developers are working on new applications for 'multitouch' screens, like those on the iPhone, the GD900 from LG Electronics Inc., due for release in the U.K. imminently, and others soon to come, including Palm Inc.'s Pre. These screens can process commands the user gives with more than one finger, which broadens the possibilities for applications. Other developers are working on advances in 'haptic' feedback -- vibrations and other physical sensations that are now used, for instance, to let a gamer know she's reached a new level, but that can also be used to communicate emotions and may soon give a touch-screen keyboard the feel of a physical keyboard. And for those who still prefer to work with keys on their phones, even some traditional keyboards will perform certain functions in response to touch commands, like a finger run lightly across the keys.
其中，尤其引人瞩目的是，开发人员正在研制针对“多触摸”屏幕的应用软件，如iPhone、以及LG电子很快将在英国推出的GD900、还有Palm Inc.最近推出的Pre等等所使用的触摸屏。这些屏幕可疑处理用户多个手指下达的要求，从而拓宽了应用软件的可能性。其它开发人员则在攻克“虚拟触觉”反馈技术──比如说，用来让游戏玩家知道自己跳升一级的震动及其它物体感官功能，同时也可以用来沟通感情，甚至很快让触摸键盘具备物体键盘的感觉。对于那些仍然青睐使用手机按键的用户，甚至一些传统按键也将能够响应部分触摸指令，如一个手指轻轻滑过按键。