TG0 R&D: METAL SENSING

Traditional capacitive touch sensors fail when a solid sheet of metal is placed on top because the metal blocks the electric field. This means inputs are impossible without physical cut-outs or exposed surfaces. To make touch-based interaction work, designers have had to compromise by adding visible seams, mechanical buttons, or relying on fragile thin sheets.

TG0 has developed Metal Sensing, a new class of pressure-based interaction technology that detects micron-level deflections in solid metal. By detecting subtle mechanical movements instead of electrical charge, inputs can be integrated directly into the solid body of laptops, smartphones, or industrial devices without any visible cut-outs or seams.