Sony granted patent for handheld with touchscreen and 'digital tactile pixels'

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) was granted a patent on Friday for a "hand-held [sic] device with touchscreen and digital tactile pixels." It'd be a stretch to say any of this is explicitly indicative of a PSP 2.0 or PSP phone, but it is interesting to note that "game device" is listed as one of the potential applications, alongside a plethora of other sony handhelds: phone, portable media player, email device, web browser device or navigation device.

As for defining "digital tactile pixels," claims 19 through 30 of the patent suggest that vibration acts as the "tactile" response. As our friends at PSP Fanboy point out, it could be a long time before we see anything to do with this patent (assuming we ever do).

Fun fact: The patent lists former Sony executive Phil Harrison as the inventor. Harrison, now the Directeur Général Délégué at Infogrames, was with the company when the patent was originally filed in January 2008.

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/29/so...and-digital-t/

Before they make a PSP2, they need to earn some more respect with the PSP, and crank out some more AA/AAA games.
If they do this (and maybe add a second analog stick), they would get a lot more support with the successor in my opinion.

Hopefully it wont have a touchscreen for good games, I really dont like that whole thing :(

with could graphics a touchscreen is not necessary. all they need to do is add another joystick to the psp and it will be amazing.

So what are we getting this in another 10 years time...


...Hmmm a touchscreen on a device!? It rings a bell.... Hmmm...

Really I would love to see a ps2 emulator on the new psp. As well as some cool things like satellite internet anywhere and a psp home service. 2 analog sticks, better graphics, touch screen is cool. A psp2 will be awesome so I can't wait for it.

When (IF) this ever comes out, it shall prove to be very interesting.

Ah, the possibilities...