Electronics maker Sharp Corp. has announced the world's first light-sensing LCD touchpad, to be built into a new line of Mebius laptops that will go in sale in late May.

Users can draw pictures and write messages into the touchpad, and then attach them to e-mail. Users can also call up the image of a piano keyboard and create music or play music-based games.

Unlike previous touch screens, such as those in bank ATMs, the Sharp touchpad uses light sensors to track input, and does not require a protective plastic sheet over the screen, resulting in a clearer image.

The new Mebius laptop, which is the size of a B5 folder and weighs only about 1.46 kilograms, also includes a 160 GB hard disk and will retail for around 80,000 yen.