The non-profit organization has signed a licensing agreement with Neonode to use the company's "MultiSensing" touch technology to be used in the OLPC’s XO-1.75 laptop, which will be called the XO Touch.
The XO Touch is said to be a hybrid device - a laptop and a tablet - that uses a 7.5-inch, sunlight-readable display, which rotates 180 degrees and folds flat over the keyboard for tablet/e-book or game mode. Embedding the Neonode MultiSensing touch solution will allow OLPC to build a completely new type of rugged laptop-tablet that is extremely fast, cost efficient and energy saving, offering full visibility in bright sunlight.
The Neonode MultiSensing technology consists of a state-of-the-art interactive touch user interface that includes gestures, multi-touch, and sweeps at a scanning speed of 1000 Hz. Thanks to the energy efficient engineering, consuming just 2W, the XO Touch can be powered through alternative power generators like solar cells or even hand cranks.
Rodrigo Arboleda, OLPC CEO said in a statement: “OLPC is proud to partner with an organization that shares its appreciation for innovative and transformative technology. Neonode’s expertise in engineering and design will turn the XO Touch, which combines the best features of laptop and tablet, into a next-level innovative machine.”
OLPC is currently taking orders for the XO-1.75. The organization claims that more than 2.5 million XO-1 and XO-1.5 laptops have shipped so far. There was no new information on the availability of the XO-3 tablet.
