Many people are catching up on the “Touch Revolution” which started in June 2007 which the first iPhones were sold. After the announcement and development of the iPhone SDK most of its hype focused on mobile gaming. Sony might be stepping into Apple’s territory revealed by a newly released patent showing a touch based gaming platform that could be used as a phone.

“The patent shows a handheld touch device that would allow both direct and gesture-based input and which would also provide force feedback across the entire display through a system known as “tactile pixels;” a grid of small bumps would lift to reach the screen and help simulate physical button presses or other effects based on touch input.”

The devices sole inventor is listed as Sony’s own director Phil Harrison. It suggests this device is or was intended to be a future replacement of the PSP handheld system, or a entirely new gaming system.

[Via Electronista]
http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/06/30/sony.touch.feedback.patent/