Portronics has introduced a handy new device that lets users convert ordinary computer and laptop monitors into touch displays. With Handmate, the company hopes to tap the large market of people who would want to upgrade (or have upgraded) to Windows 8, without making an investment in touch monitors to fully access the more intuitive, touch-friendly features of Microsoft’s new OS.
Priced at Rs. 4,999, Portronics Handmate will be available in the Indian market later this week. The device uses ultrasound and infrared technology to enable touch-input, which is applied with an ultrasonic digital stylus, and captured by a receiving unit that is connected to the computer via Plug & Play USB. Unfortunately, the device’s coverage area is only 17-inches, making it ideal for laptops, but not so much larger computer monitors.
The Portronics Handmate delivers 100 DPI of touch sensitivity, with an accuracy of 0.2mm. The stylus runs on 2 x SR41 batteries, and has a battery life of 500 hours of continuous writing/hovering – the ratio of the pen’s working and standby time is 1:9. The device’s sampling rate is 58 samples/second.
