劍橋大學研發"非接觸式觸控式螢幕"

Cambridge University researchers have developed a "no-touch touchscreen" that uses artificial intelligence to predict a user's intention before their hand reaches the display.

英國劍橋大學的研究人員研發了一種“非接觸式觸控式螢幕”。這種觸控式螢幕利用人工智慧技術，在使用者用手觸碰螢幕前，預測其意圖。

The screen was originally designed for use in cars, but the engineers who built it claim it could also have widespread applications during a pandemic.

這種螢幕最初是為汽車設計的，但研發螢幕的工程師稱，它也可在疫情期間被廣泛應用。

The "predictive touch" technology can be retrofitted to existing displays and could be used to prevent the spread of pathogens on touchscreens at supermarket check-outs, ATMs and ticket terminals at railway stations.

這種“預測性觸控”技術可以加裝在現有螢幕上，可以用來防止病原體在超市收銀臺、自動取款機和火車站售票終端機的觸控式螢幕上傳播。

Studies have shown that coronavirus can remain on plastic and glass for anywhere between two hours and a week, meaning touchscreens in public places need to be constantly disinfected to prevent transmission.

研究表明，新冠病毒可以在塑料和玻璃上停留兩小時至一週時間，這意味著公共場所的觸控式螢幕需要不斷消毒以防病毒傳播。

"Touchscreens and other interactive displays are something most people use multiple times per day, but they can be difficult to use while in motion, whether that's driving a car or hanging the music on your phone while you're running," said Simon Godsill from the university's department of engineering.

英國劍橋大學工程系的西蒙·戈德西爾說：“觸控式螢幕和其他互動式顯示屏是大多數人每天頻繁使用的物品，但人們可能很難在運動狀態中使用，無論是駕駛汽車還是在跑步時用手機播放音樂。”

"We also know that certain pathogens can be transmitted via surfaces, so this technology could help reduce the risk for that type of transmission."

“我們還知道，某些病原體可以通過物品的表面傳播，因此這項技術可以幫助降低這種傳播風險。”

The technology works by predicting where a user intends to touch the screen as they begin the hand movement towards the screen. A combination of AI and sensors determine the user's intent in real time by also tracking contextual information like the user's profile, environmental conditions and an eye-gaze tracker.

這項技術的工作原理是，在使用者開始用手觸控式螢幕幕前，預測他們想要觸控式螢幕幕的哪一區域。人工智慧和感測器通過追蹤情景資訊（比如使用者的個人資料、環境狀況和眼動跟蹤）實時判斷使用者的意圖。

Other touch-free technologies include gesture control, which can be found on the latest generation of Google and Samsung smartphones, as well as some smart TVs.

其他非接觸式技術還包括手勢控制，最新一代谷歌和三星智慧手機以及一些智慧電視都已使用手勢控制。

Haptic feedback technology also offers a way to interact with digital devices and environments, though it still needs developing and is yet to see broad commercial use.

觸覺反饋技術還提供了一種與數字裝置和環境進行互動的方式，但它仍在研發之中，而且尚未展現出廣泛的商業用途。

"Our technology has numerous advantages over more basic mid-air interaction techniques or conventional gesture recognition, because it supports intuitive interactions with legacy interface designs and doesn't require any learning on the part of the user," said Dr Bashar Ahmad, who led the development of the touchless screen

“非接觸式觸控式螢幕”研發專案負責人巴沙爾·艾哈邁德說：“相較於較為基礎的空中互動技術或常規手勢識別技術，我們的技術有很多優勢，因為它支援與傳統介面設計的直覺互動，不需要使用者進行任何學習。”

"It fundamentally relies on the system to predict what the user intends and can be incorporated into both new and existing touchscreens and other interactive display technologies."

“它完全依靠系統來預測使用者意圖，並可以與新舊觸控式螢幕以及其他互動顯示技術融為一體。”