New PlayStation 3 Controller Adds Touchpad Interaction

236w ago - Sony is introducing a new accessory for the PS3 controller, first announced a few months ago at Leipzig.

Soon, gamers will be able to snap on a wireless keypad that supports typing on the Playstation 3, including texting in the new Home environment and games like LittleBigPlanet.

In addition to the QWERTY keyboard, there are a couple of shortcut buttons - a Message Box button and a Communication button. But what's most interesting from a interaction standpoint is the new Touch Pad feature.

The Touch Pad button allows PS3 users to use the entire surface of the keypad as a touch pad, allowing them to easily maneuver the pointer while web browsing, simply by sliding their finger on the keypad surface.

That's pretty clever. Rather than cramming in a trackball or trackpad (making it heavier and larger), Sony extended the keyboard's use to include scrolling and mouse input.