Carnegie Mellon University spin-out Qeexo attracts $2.3m for smartphone screen technology.

Qeexo, spun out of Carnegie Mellon University’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute, has raised $2.3m from Sierra Ventures. 

The company has developed a mobile touchscreen technology, FingerSense, which allows devices to tell the difference between fingertips, knuckles, fingernails and a stylus. Qeexo considers its product a game changer in a stagnant field, as it would allow users to use different parts of their hand to initiate specific commands.

The product, created by the spin-out’s nine employees, is a patented technology which analyses the unique acoustics of physical objects to figure out what is touching the screen. The product is sold as original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, meaning it can be integrated into any smartphone or tablet by their respective manufacturers.

The company will use the funding round to expand its engineering and business development teams. It is also currently in talks with several companies to deploy their software.

Sang Won Lee, chief executive, said: “Qeexo is enriching the touch experience without the need for accessories.”