Multi-Touchless Control by Nokia

[Chuong Nguyen]

At CES, there a variety of ways to interact with various devices were showcased. Many of those involved waving or gesturing to a device to command it to do certain things. Some of those methods involved a web camera or an infra-red camera to receive the gestures. According to The Boy Genius Report (http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/01/08/nokia-s60-touch-ui-patent-includes-3d-touchless-control/), Nokia has come up with a way to recognize your gestures using ultrasonic waves. You can pinch and zoom, point, or gesture to the device within a certain proximity and the Ultrasonic Transducers would recognize your input without even having to touch the screen.

This is pretty cool technology, but I don't foresee a need for this on a phone but that is just me and I have gotten used to the touchscreen. However, something like this to control the TV from afar would be interesting. What mobile applications can you see yourself using this technology for?

[Jaime Rivera]

Hehehe... neat.

If this technology ever ships out, probably the first thing anybody will think when they see first out users using this interface is..... Ohh... magic! :D

[Pony99CA]

This is pretty cool technology, but I don't foresee a need for this on a phone but that is just me and I have gotten used to the touchscreen. However, something like this to control the TV from afar would be interesting.
I think companies were demonstrating gesture/clapping for TV control. For example, check out this JVC gesture controlled TV (http://www.electronichouse.com/article/new_jvc_tv_likes_hand_gestures/).

What mobile applications can you see yourself using this technology for?
One obvious benefit would be avoiding fingerprints on the screen. A real use could be answering or hanging up the phone without having to touch it (if it's sitting on your desk, for example).

But I agree that the uses seem rather limited.

Steve