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Short Text Messages In Mid-Air

bahree writes "The BBC is running an interesting story on how Nokia is making a mobile that lets you write short text messages in mid-air. The messages are written using a row of LEDs fitted on the rear cover of Nokia's forthcoming 3220 phone. A motion sensor in the phone makes the lights blink in a sequence that spells out letters when the handset is waved in the air."

39 of 331 comments (clear)

  1. You know what comes next. by sulli · · Score: 5, Funny
    Airborne ascii art.

    Be afraid. Be very afraid.

    --

    sulli
    RTFJ.
    1. Re:You know what comes next. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      8======> O?

      Lameness filter encountered. Post aborted!
      Reason: Your comment looks too much like ascii art.

    2. Re:You know what comes next. by Richard_L_James · · Score: 2, Funny

      /. :-)

  2. Pretty useful by Olaserov · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder if it has any pre-programmed messages already? A particularly useful one might be "HELP: HAVING A SIEZURE!"

    --
    * Olaserov is in the process of thinking up a signature.
  3. reverse mode by eegad · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hope it comes with reverse mode so I can wave messages to the car in front of me. think: "Green is for go"

  4. Freebird by The_Rippa · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nokia said the 3220's air messaging system could be used by friends to talk to each other across crowded rooms or open-air concerts.

    Great, all the artists need are 10,000 people waving "Freebird" in the air

  5. What need does this serve? by ethanrider · · Score: 4, Funny

    When someone developed the flamethrower it was because of the idea "You know, I'd really like to set that person over there on fire"

    I wonder what the analogous thought process was for this product if there was one...

    --
    ACMD eht detaloiv evah uoy ,erutangis siht no noitpyrcne eht gnikaerb yB
  6. Short Text Message by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny
    "Can't Afford Monthly Payments on Cell Phone - Please Help"

    You notice a cup with a few coins in it at their feet.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  7. Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    A beowulf cluster of these!
    Can it show goatse.cx?
    In Soviet Russia the phone lights you up.
    Does it run Linux?

    Oh, and:
    1. Type
    2. Shake
    3. ????
    4. Profit

  8. Re:I had that toy... by arudloff · · Score: 5, Funny

    They still sell something extremely similar at Disney World. Incrediably cool at first, for about 3 minutes, then you realize how retarded you look waving a plastic stick with mouse ears on. :(

  9. What a gimmick by AlphaPB · · Score: 5, Funny
    From the article:

    Nokia said the 3220's air messaging system could be used by friends to talk to each other across crowded rooms or open-air concerts.

    So instead of picking up the phone and calling the other person, you're supposed to type in a 15-letter text message and wave your phone around in the air?! I can see how this can be fun... for 5 minutes.

    1. Re:What a gimmick by Johnathon_Dough · · Score: 4, Funny
      Yes, according to nokia at least

      My friends and I though, have this other method we have been using, I am actually thinking of patenting it:
      We walk across the room and (this is the neat part) hold a conversation using (get this...) only our voices.

      Revolutionary for the times I admit, but just watch, give it a few years, everyone will be doing it, if only so as to not have to try and pick the message directed to them from the sea of waving arms and blinking lights at the concert.

      --
      If you are one in a million, then there are six thousand people who are just like you.
  10. How does it know? by DanielMarkham · · Score: 4, Funny

    Whether you are waving your arm in a straght line? Seems like when you wave your arm it makes more of an arc than a line. I wonder if the phone compensates.

    And you wouldn't want to send a long message on a subway -- you'd end up whacking the people around you trying to work it out. Back up, buddy! I've got a phone here!

  11. Re:Prepare for some UGLY ascii art by somethinghollow · · Score: 5, Funny

    I deleted ./trolls right after I installed Red Hat on my PC. It's really a useless directory that clutters up the file system. It's always spamming dumb things like "first post" to my terminal. It's quite annoying. It kept coming back, so I got a Mac instead.

  12. Re:Innovation? by kaltkalt · · Score: 3, Funny

    I agree 100%. Innovation my ass. Next will be combining a LED-waving-messaging phone with a camera and an mp3 player. Oooooh.... wowwww.... I gotta have thaaaaaaaat. How fucking clever.

    --

    Stupid people make stupid things profitable.
  13. when was it decided by bizpile · · Score: 4, Funny

    I want to know when it was decided that all the most annoying technology would be crammed into one device and then given to basically any idiot. I sure didnt vote on that.

  14. 15 characters by thatguywhoiam · · Score: 5, Funny

    NOONECARESNOKIA

    --
    If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
  15. Road Rage! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Imagine someone cuts off someone else in traffic.

    Both drivers taking their eyes off the road to tap obscene messages into their cell phones, and wildly waving their arms around to display it to the other driver.

    Lawyers, start your engines!

  16. Re:Innovation? by Vihai · · Score: 5, Funny

    When you let it fall by accident... will it write "OUCH!" while falling?

  17. Re:Innovation? by coopaq · · Score: 5, Funny

    Only if I can get the Hello Kitty version!

  18. except for the excercise, of course. by antimatt · · Score: 2, Funny

    christ on a cracker. I'm all for nerdliness, but I cannot think of a more useless non-feature.

    it used to be: phone = phone.

    it is becoming: phone = (verbal communication device) + (textual communication device) + (personal digital assistant) + (voice recorder) + (camera) + (internet access point) + (vibrator) + (portable game closet) + (GPS locator) + (status symbol)

    and now we add: ... + (arm-excercising device)

    basically it is becoming: phone != phone.

    -- --

    dear mobile manufacturers,

    NOT ALL FEATURES ARE GOOD FEATURES.

    love,
    matt.

  19. Re:Prepare for some UGLY ascii art by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    look on the bright side. if his arms are up in the air, they aren't blocking the punch that's coming towards his nose..

  20. Re:Innovation? by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 5, Funny
    but now we are going to get people gesticulating madly, waving their arms back and forth to send messages.
    You'd better not go to Italy then!
    --
    Drill baby drill - on Mars
  21. Re:Innovation? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Damn. And you thought cell phones in movies were obnoxious before.... I just want a cell phone where I can simultaneously text message the entire movie theater at once:

    SIERRA TANGO FOXTROT UNIFORM!

    ... and see how long it takes for them to figure it out.

  22. MOD PARENT -1 IMPOSSIBLE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny


    face to face communication is years away !

  23. Re:Innovation? by Tandoori+Haggis · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Innovation my ass"

    No doubt the mobile co's will start encouraging people to use airtime for exchanging regular jpg updates from "live" within their colon. Then there wil be "womb with a view". Instead of belly button piercings, there will be mini view cams and the images will be broadcast via wireless and BB will be able to spy on stuff that belly buttons see.

    Er wait BB = Big Brother, BB = Belly Button...

    We need BBB's = Belly Button Beannies - to stop BB's spying on people...

    --
    My hyperlinks aren't worth the paper they're printed on.
  24. Re:This would be great for... by nsuccorso · · Score: 1, Funny

    That's because they're "artists". Next time, remember to throw pennies at them.

  25. ip over AIR by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 2, Funny

    so, next out will be an RFC about how to packetize IP datagrams and wrap them in this led-air 'transport'. but its one way, so how do you get ack's and stuff? well, that's just a detail, save that for AFTER we get funding.

    IP over ASCII LED air painting.

    at least it will be faster than ip over carrier pidgeon (which IS an actual RFC, btw).

    --

    --
    "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
  26. Useful 15 letter messages for this device. by ikkonoishi · · Score: 3, Funny

    "HANG UP & DRIVE"
    "U R IN MY LANE!"
    "SAME TO YOU ASS"
    "DAMN TAILGATER!"

    this is a bunch of lower case letters to avoid the lameness filter so you can ignore it if you like or not if it fits your preference.

  27. Brilliant Marketing by Colonel+Failure · · Score: 1, Funny

    What a great idea, a phone that you have to wave wildly in the air to send your message! The marketing people at Nokia are geniuses. It has built in repeat sales all over it. Think of all the extras they can sell too! Impact insurance, bystandard protection plan and of course for the die hards little tethers like on surfboards.

  28. Hmmm, let's see...... by d474 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Nokia said the 3220's air messaging system could be used by friends to talk to each other across crowded rooms or open-air concerts.

    Okay, let me see, I'm in a crowded room, a party let's say, and my drunk friend is trying to get my attention. What takes longer, for drunk boy to pull out the phone, get to the proper menu, drunk type into the phone using T9, press ok, wave the phone like a madman, only to have it slip out of his hand and go flying across the room and hit the hot chick in the head he was trying to point out to me......

    OR, is it easier for him just to yell my name and spare the girl a head injury? Which is easier?

    --
    Authority questions you. Return the favor.
  29. Re:Finally! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    That's the stupidest idea I've ever heard. And I'm a television producer.

  30. I want one of this for my car! by Phybersyk0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you could make it print the characters in reverse it'd be awesome!

    My first messages would be:

    "Put Down The Phone And Drive"
    "Eat when you get home!"
    "I think you've eaten enough already"
    "Watch TV when you get home."
    "Nice stereo. Turn it down."
    "POLICE"
    "OMG WTF LOL"

  31. Nokia ring tone sales? by sploxx · · Score: 3, Funny

    I once heard (maybe an urban legend, but anyway) that Nokia is making 30% of their sales with... ... RINGTONES.

    Maybe someone has the exact numbers availbe?

    Such a gimmick seems to be a very thoughtful addition to the phone for me.
    Now, Nokia could start selling people LED-Messages. And, since they pay alot for ___RINGTONES___...

  32. Re:Innovation? by xsupergr0verx · · Score: 1, Funny

    Quit being a fancypants and use your finger!

    --

    Click here for a free picture of an iPod!
  33. Re:I had that toy... by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 2, Funny
    I've already seen something similar to this used in a club. Some retard was waving one of these LED toys around in the middle of the dance floor that read...I shit you not....

    "Acid??? Rolls???"

    It took less than 10 seconds of this before two large men dressed in nice black suits escorted him off the dance floor and into a back room.

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  34. Re:Innovation? by daveashcroft · · Score: 1, Funny

    you sound like my girlfriend.

  35. Re:Innovation? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, it, for some strange reason, says
    "Oh No, Not Again"

  36. Re:This would be great for... by cluke · · Score: 2, Funny

    how about... using these instead of lighters at rock concerts? I can see 80,000 people doing this at a Metallica concert. Would make one hell of a sight.

    Yeah, as long as they didn't use it to spell out any of their copyrighted lyrics, or Metallica would have them taken to court.