Microsoft Finalizes Perceptive Pixel Buy For Huge-Screen Touchscreen Tech

Microsoft has finalized its acquisition of multitouch-magic firm Perceptive Pixel, bringing the complex infinite-point touchscreen developer in-house with the Windows maker. Announced last month, the deal hasn't been fleshed out with details as to exactly what Microsoft intends to do with Perceptive Pixel, but company founder, president and CTO Jeff Han will be reporting as part of the Office team.

"I'm excited to share that all closing conditions for Microsoft's acquisition of Perceptive Pixel (PPI) have been met, and the deal is completed" Microsoft Office Division general manager Giovanni Mezgec said in a statement today. "We couldn't be more pleased to welcome PPI to the Microsoft Office Division. PPI's expertise in hardware, software and thought leadership will contribute to success in broad scenarios such as collaboration, meetings and presentations."

Perceptive Pixel specializes in large-scale touchscreens that recognize huge numbers of contact points. The displays – which come in table-top and wall sizes – can also be used with special active styluses that can be tracked for latitude/ longitude, distance, time/depth, x/y/z coordinates and other information about the pen tip, even before it touches the surface of the display.

That could well be translated down into a smaller-scale display, such as a next-generation Microsoft Surface. "Our innovative controller technology flawlessly differentiates styluses from fingers while tracking input from each stylus separately and eliminating false touches" Perceptive Pixel says of its pen system. "You can easily annotate or draw on screen with one hand while repositioning on-screen objects with your other hand. And you can rest your wrist comfortably on the screen as you write or draw with the active stylus because our devices recognize and reject a palm or forearm touch input."

There's more on Perceptive Pixel in our hands-on with a vast 82-inch model back in January. Terms of the Microsoft acquisition are still to be revealed.