It may also deliver something even rarer: the sense of touch in a digital age. The group's innovation builds off a class of soft robots pioneered by a team led by Christoph Keplinger, formerly an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at CU Boulder. In developing that technology, however, the team landed on the idea of a tabletop display. Other research teams have developed similar smart tablets, but the CU Boulder display is softer, takes up a lot less room and is much faster. And, Rentschler said, the display can bring something else: a little peace and quiet.

Source: The Nation July 31, 2023 16:09 UTC