Researchers create a virtual screen with touchable objects

A team from the University of Tokyo is putting their own spin on a touchscreen. By combining an infrared sensor with ultrasound technology, the group of researches have managed to design a virtual display that's as thin as air and can let you feel every object you're touching. Dubbed HaptoMime, the project uses a reflective surface to give you that physically tangible feeling, while a change in ultrasonic pressure make it possible to create a number of different sensations -- say you're playing a digital keyboard (like the one pictured above), the feedback from it isn't the same you get with other type of applications. Check out the HaptoMime holographic screen in action after the break.