# Hand-Reading Styli Microsoft Research's Ken Hinckley Designed a Mind-Reading Tablet Stylus By Alyson Wyers | Published 2014-10-15 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tablet-stylus References: [fastcodesign](http://www.fastcodesign.com/3036931/microsoft-research-invents-a-stylus-that-can-read-your-mind) & [dl.acm.org](http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2647379) Despite what Steve Jobs said about styli, Microsoft Research Labs is trying to reinvent the tablet stylus so that pen computing might become as ubiquitous as the touch screen. Instead of "dumb sticks with capacitive foam glued to the tip," the styli of the future will be able to read your grip and anticipate your movements. Created by Ken Hinckley of Microsoft Research Labs, this concept stylus has a multi-touch grip sensor and is paired with a tablet with similar grip-sensing capabilities. By being able to read the way your hands grip them, these products will be able to tell how you're holding them and how far the tablet stylus is in relation to the screen. Hinckley believes the correlation between human grip and their mind is very important. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.7/10 - Popularity: 2% | Activity: 12% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Mobile](https://www.trendhunter.com/mobile) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Smart Stylus:** The rise of grip-sensing and mind-reading smart stylus pens for tablets and other touchscreen devices. - **Human-computer Interaction:** The increasing importance of human grip and behavior for the development of advanced human-computer interactions. - **Predictive Technology:** The integration of predictive technology with stylus pens and grip-sensors for a more seamless and intuitive user experience. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Technology:** Technology companies that produce and design touchscreen devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and computers. - **Design:** Companies that specialize in designing human-computer interfaces, user experience, and product design. - **Education:** The integration of smart stylus pens into educational technology, such as e-learning platforms and virtual classrooms. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Magnetic Wirelessly Charged Stylus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pro-stylus-2.md) - [Lifelike Writing Utensil Styluses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/apple-pencil-pro.md) - [Human-Computer Interaction Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tech-at-meta.md) - [Captivating Stylus Pens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/quill.md) - [Virtual MR Headset Styluses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/logitech-mx-ink-mixed-reality-stylus.md) - [Digital Writing Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fuseproject.md) - [Fashionable Desktop Design Tablets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wondlet-graphics-tablet.md) - [Education-Focused Styluses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/logitech-pen.md) - [Designer-Targeted Tablet Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pen-tablet.md)