According to a new patent filed by Microsoft, old generation laptops will be compatible with modern touch controls in the near future. The Redmond-based technology company wants to provide old generation non-touch laptops with touch control via an external device.
The patent that was applied by Microsoft in January became public only this month. It goes to suggest that Microsoft has been planning to bring modern touch-based controls to old generation non-touch laptops for quite some time now.
Microsoft bringing touch control to old generation laptops
The patent details the way Microsoft plans to bring touch control to old generation laptops in the absence of a touch screen. The patent further suggests the trackpad can be used as an emulated touchscreen.
“An input mode trigger is detected so that a computing system treats inputs from a touch sensing device as touch inputs. A focus area input mechanism, which is smaller than a display screen controlled by the computing system, is displayed on the display screen,” read the patent.
Well, this could be a significant move in particular. Microsoft’s Your Phone app allows users to stream Android apps to Windows 10 PC.
Microsoft has already made it clear that some of those Android apps won’t work with Windows 10 PC since they are primarily designed for touch screen control. As a result, the same apps won’t work properly on Windows 10 machines using a keyboard and mouse.
It remains to be seen how the actual implementation will take place. However, this is highly likely to benefit touchscreen-based Android apps that users may want to stream on their Windows 10 PC, courtesy of Your Phone app.
Well, we can safely assume Windows 10 users can stream multiple Android apps simultaneously in the near future.
Earlier this week, Microsoft revealed the all-new Surface Duo in all its glory. Microsoft Surface Duo is a foldable device that runs Google’s Android operating system. The device is likely to give competitors a run for their money.
Via: Mspoweruser.
