Linux 3.13 Supports The Neonode zForce

There's many exciting Linux 3.13 kernel features already, but we have another one to talk about today. In the input subsystem update for 3.13, support for the Neonode zForce has been added, an interesting touch-screen technology based on infrared light fields.

Neonode's zForce is an infrared touch technology designed to be used on devices from smart-phones to home appliances. With this optical 2D touch technology, input isn't limited to using your fingers, but any type of material will work. The zForce touch-screens can also be adapted to any type of surface regardless of shape. For those interested in this neat touch-screen technology, check out Neonode.com.

With the Linux 3.13 kernel input driver updates, there's now a Neonode zForce driver. The Linux kernel driver for the touch-screen was originally presented in August as about one thousand lines of new kernel code. The driver ends up being the "zforce_ts" kernel module and the work appears to be done by MundoReader and Barnes & Noble.

The other work for the Linux 3.13 kernel input area includes a Hyper-V synthetic keyboard driver and various bug-fixes and clean-ups. More details on the Linux 3.13 input changes can be found via the Git merge.