It could still be a good way to differentiate between different UI elements, especially when UI style skews toward the "is this an integrative element or not?"

It could still be a good way to differentiate between different UI elements, especially when UI style skews toward the "is this an integrative element or not?" end of the spectrum, as it has currently. Are there any phone/tablet display technologies that are flexible enough to work with something like this and not wear out almost immediately? The general concept isn't new, although this is the first implementation I've seen. It seems like the big challenge would be combining it with a working display that would last long enough to be useful. I'd always imagined a MEMS device where each pixel was on an independent pillar that could be raised or lowered (magnetically, pneumatically, etc.). Basically the original vision of the Optimus keyboard combined with the heightmap table display from the first X-Men film. It would be trickier to get an element there to feel like a single button instead of pushing your finger into one of those "box of pins" desk toys, but not impossible.