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Optical Mouse Saves Space in Cellphones
Chris writes "Researchers at Philips have integrated a space-saving optical mouse into a mobile phone for the first time.
Dutch researchers at the Philips Center for Industrial Technology have developed a compact, optical interface for portable electronic equipment. The team says that its new input gadget can be easily integrated in cellphones, laptops and PDAs, providing an space-efficient alternative to a mechanical trackball or touch-pad for example.
The device is made up of a low-power red laser diode and a detector placed beneath a lens. Light from the 650 nm laser is focused on an object, such as a fingertip, creating an external cavity. It is not necessary to touch the lens. A small portion of this light is then reflected back and mixes with the light within the internal laser cavity."
Most people who carry laptops carry a cell phone anyway.
This is one cellphone innovation that seems worthwhile.
One question, can you turn on the mouse feature separately from the rest of the phone? This would be important for use in airplanes, since cell phone usage is generally banned on planes.
I am the evil aardvark!
Being one of those jerks who talks on my cell phone a fair amount (I do try to be considerate, honest!) I have to say that reducing the number of moving parts in the phone sounds like a wonderful idea. My biggest problem with cell phones is how flimsy they are, and how quickly parts of them wear out. if this improves the MTBF for the phone, I say bring it on!
...does anyone need a MOUSE (or any pointint device!) on their cellphone? Frankly, I don't use much more than the number keys and the "start call" button. I honestly can't imagine why anyone would WANT to use their phone for something else. If I want to play games, I go find a computer or a console - or a deck of cards!
such as Samsung SPH-I300? A pointer device could be useful to keep all those fingerprints off the touch screen :-)
..especially oily fingertips, will eventually lead to nasty build-up partially obscuring the cavity.
I hope they put a little glass window over these rather than leaving it exposed like the bottom of my optical mouse - human hands are just too oily for this kind of thing, especially those of us who are less sanitary than my OCD-laden self. ;)
Mobile phones really don't need a mouse/trackball thing. I'd like to see an example of one that does (My phone has a "mouse" button, which is basically like a game controller touchpad. I think they did it to be able to put a cute little mouse picture on the box) Now, the real advantage would come with the second item mentioned: Laptop. I have used laptop trackballs, touchpads, and the little nipple thing. Touchpads are the best IMHO, but after about 5 hours working with one, my hand would cramp up and my finger would go numb. With this thing, I'd just have the hand cramp. It's a step in the right direction. Plus, you get the gee-wiz factor of it looking like something out of a sci-fi movie (see, I wave my finger over this spot, and something happens!) For PDA's, take it or leave it, Personally, I'd leave it, since a stylus is more versitile than a mouse.
Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain.
I think they are just doing this because they want to make it seem like a phone for $300 is a good deal. That is all... it is a marketing gimmic...
...And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me." - Martin Niemoeller (1892-1984)
You know how a trackball is essentially a mouse turned upside down? This is the concept at work here.
I can't believe it took this long to come up with the optical touchpoint. I can't use those eraser-head pointers, touchpads are always interfering whenever I brush my palm on it while typing. With this technology, all you need is a tiny hole to put your thumb over. For greater accuracy, you could even have a trackball-sized device with the hole on the top and a smooth surface to move your hand on.
This can also be integrated into a regular optical mouse...your finger can control scrolling and zooming without a wheel.
Until we have MEMS displays at a virtual 50", we really won't need these in cell phones and PDA's. But it will be great for wearable computing; hold the controller in your hand and point by moving your thumb on the side of the case.
It's not that these things haven't been done before, it's just that you can now do it more reliably and with better accuracy.
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would be cool to be able to use your cellphone as a mouse for your pc :)