RIM Patents Next Generation of Awesome Screens

The Windows Mobile touch paradigm has left users of the platform in a conundrum--choose between the accuracy of the stylus input of resistive touchscreens or go with slicker, finger-friendly pinch and zoom of capacitive touch. Essentially, accuracy or simplicity sans stylus. iPhone and Android users have been enjoying capacitive touchscreens, joined by the Palm Pre and BlackBerry Storm, while Windows Mobile users are more accustomed to resistive touch technology. Research in Motion is hoping to alleviate some of those woes with a patent on a hybrid capacitive-resistive touchscreen, and if it works, we're hoping that HTC and other Windows Mobile licensees license the RIM technology for use on Windows Phone as it would create a great balance for tapping on things while on the go but retaining the use of handwriting recognition.

If you're unsure about the differences between resistive and capacitive touch, check out our analysis of the touchscreen technologies.

The RIM patent calls for two resistive touchscreen layers on the inner layers and a capacitive touchscreen layer on the outer layer. The hybrid screen will mean that users can still have more accurate inputs, and use programs like ink notes and Transcriber while making it easy for consumers to tap on phone numbers with their fingers, flip through photo albums, or pan and zoom while browsing.

(via: SlashGear)