LG Paving The Way For Thinner Touchscreen Laptops

LG has developed a new form of technology that it says will be used to develop thinner and lighter touchscreen laptops.

Touchscreens have become increasingly popular among PC user in the past few years, a trend that’s due largely in part to Windows 8. When Microsoft announced Windows 8, it confirmed the operating system would place an emphasis on touchscreen functions. These beliefs were reinforced when Windows 8 hit stores, introducing users to a new touchscreen-friendly interface.

LG is hoping to capitalize on the trend of touchscreen devices with its new technology. Known as Advanced In-Cell Touch (AIT), it will reportedly eliminate the need for a separate touchscreen layer by placing the sensor directly into the LCD screen. Normally, touchscreen monitors and devices feature at least two separate layers. When a user touches the outside layer, it presses down against the layer underneath, at which point the device is able to calculate the exact location at which the touch occurred.

Now for the million-dollar question: what benefits does AIT offer (if any)? According to a press release published by LG, it will reduce the thickness of a typical touchscreen by roughly 25% and weight by 35%. What’s even more impressive, however, is that it will reportedly deliver brighter and clearer pictures due to the elimination of light reflection caused by multiple panes of glass.

“The technology eliminates the space needed for a touch function cover glass, and as a result reduces the panel’s thickness by 1 millimeter (approximately 25 percent) and its weight by 200 grams (approximately 35 percent) compared to a conventional 15.6-inch touch-embedded panel with Full HD resolution. It also offers a brighter and clearer screen picture since there is no light loss or light reflection caused by the cover glass,” wrote LG in a press release. “In addition it features an excellent touch response and precise calibration of the touch point even with water drops on the screen.”

Surprisingly, this isn’t exactly a new technology, as LG is already using it in its flagship smartphone, the G4. But the company wants to scale up the technology so it can implemented in other applications, including touchscreen monitors. This is certainly a smart move considering the fact that Windows 10 is scheduled to be released within the upcoming months.