Abstract: A dry erase whiteboard, or other writing or projection surface assembly, is formed from a backing substrate having a surface, and an inner conductive layer and an outer conductive layer supported by the surface of the substrate. A resistive layer is positioned between the inner conductive layer and the outer conductive layer. The resistive layer has an electrical resistivity that varies in response to mechanical deformation and/or stress to provide a variable effective resistance between the inner and outer conductive layers. The outer conductive layer can be immovably attached to a fixed frame, which is mounted to the substrate, in spaced apart relation to the inner conductive layer to define an air gap therebetween and a tensioning assembly can maintain the outer conductive layer in a tensioned state. Alternatively, the resistive layer is fixed directly to each conductive layer to provide a substantially air free environment therebetween.

Abstract: A dry erase whiteboard, or other writing or projection surface assembly, is formed from a substrate having a surface and a pressure sensitive composite layer supported by the surface of the substrate. The pressure sensitive composite layer has an electrical characteristic that varies in response to the application of pressure to a contact surface of the composite layer. A control system coupled to the composite layer generates input commands for a computer system based on varying values of the electrical characteristic resulting from the application of pressure to the contact surface. Different input commands may be generated based on the number of currently applied pressures, as well as the degree of applied force associated with each different touch.