Turning a MacBook into a touchscreen with $1 of hardware (2018) (anishathalye.com)

Article summary

The article describes a proof-of-concept project called 'Project Sistine' that turns a MacBook into a touchscreen using only $1 of hardware and computer vision. The system uses a small mirror positioned in front of the MacBook's built-in webcam to detect fingers hovering over or touching the screen. The video feed is then translated into touch events using computer vision techniques. The project demonstrates a low-cost and practical way to add touchscreen functionality to a laptop.

Main themes

• Touchscreen conversion
• Computer vision
• Low-cost hardware
• MacBook modification
• User interface design

What commenters say

• Some people do not see the need for touchscreens on laptops, citing ergonomics and fingerprint issues as concerns.
• Others believe that touchscreens can be useful for certain tasks, such as mobile development, and that they can be a natural way to interact with a computer.
• There is debate over whether Apple's potential plans to release a touchscreen MacBook are driven by a genuine need for the feature or are simply a response to market trends.
• Some commenters argue that touchscreens are not necessary for laptops and that they would rather use a mouse or trackpad for input.
• The usability of touchscreens on laptops is also a point of contention, with some arguing that they can be useful for certain tasks but not for others.
• There are concerns that adding touchscreens to laptops could blur the lines between different product lines, such as the iPad and MacBook, and potentially hurt sales.
• Some commenters have mixed opinions on the usability of macOS keyboard navigation, with some finding it flawless and others citing issues with window navigation and positioning.
• The potential benefits and drawbacks of adding touchscreens to laptops are weighed, with some seeing it as a gimmick and others as a useful feature.