Current displays are relatively smooth, and it is difficult to achieve realistic results when writing or drawing on them with a stylus. Recently, Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC disclosed a patent for a “touchscreen panel with surface friction modification”, which allows users to adjust the surface roughness. According to the abstract, the embodiments allow for the formation of a friction-modified touch-sensitive surface on a touchscreen panel.
Specifically, the touch-sensitive surface is enhanced with two friction-modified materials, said two friction-modified materials being dispersed with each other as a single molecular layer according to a predetermined pattern on the surface of the touchscreen panel.
In its patent application, Microsoft describes hand-drawing-related application scenarios, i.e. when the device is enabled for complex digital drawing applications, where the digital drawing application provides accurate emulation of artistic drawing and painting (i.e. emulation of the strokes of a pen, pencil, brush, etc.), especially when used with a stylus or digital pen.
