E Ink, the company behind high-quality e-readers, has created a touchscreen trackpad that runs AI apps. The new trackpad uses a color display and is designed to offer swiping, tapping, dragging, and clicking functionality similar to a traditional trackpad. However, E Ink envisions it as a dedicated home for AI interactions, providing quick access to shortcuts, system notifications, and GenAI contents.
The company claims to have leveraged Intel technologies and designed the trackpad to be usable even when the laptop is off. Despite this innovation, the idea of cramming a touchscreen into a laptop trackpad remains questionable. Previous attempts to utilize the trackpad for content have failed to gain traction.
E Ink believes its trackpad will consume less power than previous versions, but this does not address the fundamental issue of why someone would want a display in their trackpad. Using the trackpad requires looking down and learning not to cover it with your hands, which is not an intuitive design.
The availability of E Ink’s AI trackpad is uncertain, but it may appear in an expensive “AI PC” in the future. The use of Intel technologies suggests that this product could become a reality, although its purpose remains unclear.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/neither-ai-nor-e-ink-can-make-touchscreen-trackpads-a-good-idea-202505733.html