Japan Display's Upcoming Touch Screens Feature Slimmer Bezels, Wet Finger Support

[spacemnspiff]

With a thin display bezel, they can make a thin casing bezel.

Are we talking about the height of the phone here? The wide dimension bezel of the phone is already as small a bezel as can be, maybe a some trivial size reduction there.
I haven't seen people holding the phone on top and bottom bezel, I don't think the slim bezel on top and bottom can be an ergonomic issue.
The only issue with the height that I can think of is pocket-ability of the phone. Another reason is probably psychological - aesthetic reason, want the phone to look cool. Is that why people demand thinner bezels, because it might look the so called 'cool'?

 

[toph2toast]

Others may have mentioned this already, but I'd like to see this used on the Apple Watch more than anything. Often after a good workout, my fingers have too much sweat on them to accurately navigate the workout app. It takes repeated input attempts to eventually get everything done. First world problem, I know.

 

[Kissaragi]

that sounds great, especially in a waterproof phone.

 

[djgamble]

Do you REALLY want to be operating a $1000 phone with wet fingers? Just saying... they're not waterproof.

 

[LordVic]

Maybe it's just that Valentines day is so close, but that headline feels dirty.

hehe.. wet. finger..

I'm at work, and my co-workers think my giggling is weird.

 

[Merkyworks]

"managed to decrease the thickness of the bezel, going from 0.8mm to 0.5mm"

That is a difference of 0.3mm which is 0.012 inches or basically 4 sheet of paper stacked on top of each other. Not exactly earth shattering

 

[B4U]

Would this technology also work on the touch ID?
I can't unlock the phone right out of shower when my fingers are slightly damp...
Hopefully I am not the only one facing this issue.

 

[Vanilla35]

Are we talking about the height of the phone here? The wide dimension bezel of the phone is already as small a bezel as can be, maybe a some trivial size reduction there.
I haven't seen people holding the phone on top and bottom bezel, I don't think the slim bezel on top and bottom can be an ergonomic issue.
The only issue with the height that I can think of is pocket-ability of the phone. Another reason is probably psychological - aesthetic reason, want the phone to look cool. Is that why people demand thinner bezels, because it might look the so called 'cool'?

I was speaking about the side bezel. While "small" already, I much more prefer the aesthetic of LG G2/G3 in terms of the slightly smaller bezel on left and right size. It does not seem very different at first, but it makes a big difference. Also; if you take a look at Japanese and Chinese phone manufacturers, you'll see where we're headed. It looks amazing, and can't wait until the iPhone follows suit: Link 1 - Link 2 - Link 3 - the last 2 links are Oppo's bezel-less phone. Looks incredible.

One can argue about how the size bezel is useful for not accidentally touching the screen and stuff, but software will take over the need for that, as it already has for the most part.

Aside from that, I wanted to leave you with one last thing: Link 4

The 4.7 inch iPhone, without them bezels. All of a sudden, people don't care so much about the 4.0" phone anymore. Imo, if they shrunk it to 4.5" and made it the current 5S size, it would be perfect. But at this point (considering how outrageously huge the bezels are on the 6/6S, and definitely 6/6S+) when they put TouchID in the screen they can shave a ton of size away when they cut down on bezel size (both top and bottom).

 

[macs4nw]

Ive - "Slimmer bezels are good but how I can I continue making the devices thinner?"

Upon some pondering and in a rare 'aha' moment for Joni, he explains: "We'll get rid of the display and the battery.

The device will henceforth be powered by energy radiated by humans, while the images previously displayed by an old-fashioned screen, will now be beamed and uploaded directly to the user's optic nerve."

 

[Reason077]

A touchscreen that works with wet fingers would be welcome.

But even better would be if they could sort out the Touch ID. Currently it fails if my finger is even a tiny bit damp or sweaty - conditions in which the touch screen will still work just fine.

 

[lordofthereef]

Finally a device that might work (well) in the middle of a workout session.

 

[Vanilla35]

Finally a device that might work (well) in the middle of a workout session.

I'm waiting for the apple watch that is a stand alone device (i.e. I can go on runs without my iPhone)

 

[lordofthereef]

I'm waiting for the apple watch that is a stand alone device (i.e. I can go on runs without my iPhone)

I'd be happy with that too
I won't buy an Apple Watch for myself until this is the case. I do suspect I will receive a hand me down from my wife though lol. Unless the next iteration does what I want/need

 

[Vanilla35]

I'd be happy with that too
I won't buy an Apple Watch for myself until this is the case. I do suspect I will receive a hand me down from my wife though lol. Unless the next iteration does what I want/need

Lucky you haha. Also, if there is a redesign, I may have to cave. I'll support Jony in his endeavors here. Just not on the iPhone.

 

[rbrian]

Do you REALLY want to be operating a $1000 phone with wet fingers? Just saying... they're not waterproof.

There are already rumours about wireless earbuds and charging, so with no holes and a screen that works when it's wet, it COULD be waterproof. Even if not, most of us use it with slightly damp fingers from time to time, perhaps workout sweat, or an old asthmatic hand dryer which blows a gentle warm breeze and would take all day to actually dry your hands (boy did Dyson do well with the Airblade!)

 

[MH01]

Finger scanner that can handle moisture, big thumbs up!!

 

[alexgowers]

if apple goes big and uses wet finger touch, and waterproofs the phone then we actually could see some massive uptake on iPhone 7! the 1mm stylus also appeals, if they can pull all that off then i'm sold and many others will be too. so far apple has force touch and these extras would put them over the edge where other mobile makers literally just couldn't catch up for years.

 

[lederermc]

I am really curious how they got a capacitive screen to work while wet. Living in the very damp Pacific NW, this would be a pretty huge feature for me.

And those that use while sitting in hot tub.

 

[Mr Staunton]

I like the sound of wet finger support.

 

[Cwolk]

This might be one of those things that apple includes but does advertise (lets consumers figure out on their own) to prevent people from dunking their phones in water then demanding a refund

 

[melendezest]

This sounds good and is a good step forward, but until iPhone gets a back button (would love to configure the volume buttons as back/forward when in Safari, for example) and better app switching, I'm stayin' in another Galaxy.

It's the one-button mouse all over again.

 

[spacemnspiff]

I was speaking about the side bezel. While "small" already, I much more prefer the aesthetic of LG G2/G3 in terms of the slightly smaller bezel on left and right size. It does not seem very different at first, but it makes a big difference. Also; if you take a look at Japanese and Chinese phone manufacturers, you'll see where we're headed. It looks amazing, and can't wait until the iPhone follows suit: Link 1 - Link 2 - Link 3 - the last 2 links are Oppo's bezel-less phone. Looks incredible.

One can argue about how the size bezel is useful for not accidentally touching the screen and stuff, but software will take over the need for that, as it already has for the most part.

Aside from that, I wanted to leave you with one last thing: Link 4

The 4.7 inch iPhone, without them bezels. All of a sudden, people don't care so much about the 4.0" phone anymore. Imo, if they shrunk it to 4.5" and made it the current 5S size, it would be perfect. But at this point (considering how outrageously huge the bezels are on the 6/6S, and definitely 6/6S+) when they put TouchID in the screen they can shave a ton of size away when they cut down on bezel size (both top and bottom).

All I read was looks, and looks amazing. That is not a good enough for me reason to have the slimmest bezel. It should work ergonomically too.
It would be nice to see the mention of ergonomics to make this discussion intelligible. While holding the 4.7" iPhone, the fingers wrap around the housing and the screen. If the part the fingers wrap around screen was already touch sensitive, then just the act of holding the phone would trigger unintended inputs to the screen. That would be highly undesirable and takes away from the productivity of the phone.

 

[Vanilla35]

All I read was looks, and looks amazing. That is not a good enough for me reason to have the slimmest bezel. It should work ergonomically too.
It would be nice to see the mention of ergonomics to make this discussion intelligible. While holding the 4.7" iPhone, the fingers wrap around the housing and the screen. If the part the fingers wrap around screen was already touch sensitive, then just the act of holding the phone would trigger unintended inputs to the screen. That would be highly undesirable and takes away from the productivity of the phone.

You missed this sentence "One can argue about how the size bezel is useful for not accidentally touching the screen and stuff, but software will take over the need for that, as it already has for the most part."

Ergonomics have been addressed with the curved design, it would seem. As my assumption is that they will likely be able to shrink bezel's again with the iP7, I'm assuming the design will shift again (based on your logic, a smaller design does not require rounded edges) to not require rounded corners and sides. They have indeed made 3D touch applicable to the edges of the screen, and I do think that is important, however so much pressure is needed with that feature that it is not going to cause accidental triggers by holding the phone with your finger on the side, I would think. Also, as mentioned above, software takes care of knowing whether it is a incidental press/force press, or on purpose.

 

[Michael Goff]

Still too much bezel. Don't want any.

Water fingers sounds good.

I don't get the hatred of the bezel. You do know that you can have too little bezel, right?