iPhone’s 3D Touch could soon be available for ANY smartphone

Apple's 3D Touch is a form of pressure sensitive response from the iPhone, which can be utilized to perform different functions. There was a lot of talk about the Force Touch technology being an integral part of the upcoming Android N on release, but those have faded out since a newer report suggested that it won't be available on Android N just yet. In the meanwhile, a group of engineers from the University of Michigan have come up with something even more advanced, called the ForcePhone software.

This application won't require displays that are pressure sensitive or any other special sensors in the smartphone to work. Every smartphone has a speaker and a microphone; the technology will simply use them to emit an ultrasound frequency which will cover the 18-24KHz range. This will somehow allow the user to bring up additional menus and options with ease, by simply pressing a little harder on the display panel. Apparently, Yu-Chih Tung, one of the co-creators, was inspired by Nolan's "The Dark Knight" movie, where Batman tracked the Joker by converting all smartphones within the city into a gigantic sonar-based tracking system.

If it does turn out to be as amazing as it sounds, then "3D Touch" will no longer be a premium feature that's limited to only the top-end, expensive smartphones which have all the hardware that money can buy. We will find out more in between June 27-29, during the MobiSys 2016 in Singapore, as that is where people will get to see the ForcePhone app in action for the first time.

Author: Saikat Kar (Tech-journalist and enthusiast)