- New device claims to add touchscreen functionality to any MacBook
- It detects your hand movements and works via USB-C
- Please note, the device is currently listed on Kickstarter
A small number of Mac fans have been asking Apple to add touchscreen features to the MacBook for years, and if you believe the rumors, the company could be about to do just that with next year’s M6 model. But if you don’t want to wait that long, one company has developed a makeshift solution that costs way less than buying a new MacBook Pro.
This product is called LapTouch ($159, or around £120 / AU$245) and it’s currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, so all the usual crowdfunding caveats apply. There, its creator claims it will turn any non-touch macOS laptop into a touchscreen equivalent, allowing you to interact with your computer by pressing and pushing its screen with your finger.
The LapTouch is a small horizontal bar located along the bottom edge of your MacBook’s screen, resting on the space just above the keyboard (the area formerly occupied by the touch-sensitive Touch Bar). One end has a cable attached – simply plug it into one of the USB-C ports on your laptop and the LapTouch can be powered on. Once done, your touchscreen is activated.
It works by using light to detect the position of your hand or finger. You’ll be able to move your finger across your screen and see the answer on your computer, where you can move the pointer, draw lines, scroll through images, and much more. You can even use it by hovering your hand in front of the screen, without needing to physically touch your laptop screen.
An attractive option for some
Apple has long resisted the idea of creating a touchscreen MacBook due to the poor ergonomics involved. As Steve Jobs once described it: “After a short period of time, you start to get tired, and after a prolonged period of time, your arm feels like falling off.” Since then, Apple has stuck strictly to that line, which made the rumor that it was going to perform a dramatic about-face all the more curious.
Personally, I’m not entirely convinced by the LapTouch. I’ve never felt the need for a touchscreen laptop—using Apple’s Magic Trackpad or one of the better mice has always given me all the control I need—and the few times I’ve used a touchscreen computer, I’ve noticed the discomfort immediately.
Plus, keeping a MacBook’s screen smudge-free is hard enough if you regularly open and close the lid. I dread to think what state mine would be in after moving my finger across it to use the LapTouch’s touchscreen capabilities. Yes, you don’t need to touch the screen to use the LapTouch, but holding my arm in the air for a considerable amount of time is a quick recipe for pain and fatigue.
That said, the LapTouch could find an audience among people who want touchscreen functionality in a laptop but don’t want to shell out for something like the M6 MacBook Pro or a Microsoft Surface. When you just need to pay $159 to add touchscreen functionality to an existing laptop, this could be an attractive prospect for many people.
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