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Short Text Messages In Mid-Air

Posted by timothy on from the clever-finns dept.

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."

9 of 331 comments (clear)

  1. Holey Spokes by stoolpigeon · · Score: 4, Informative

    Kind of like Hokey Spokes but not as big or cool really. But it will sell with the junior high crowd I predict.

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  2. more on that from The Reg by jdesbonnet · · Score: 3, Informative


    http://www.theregister.com/2004/06/02/nokia_shel ls _waving/

  3. Finally! by Piranhaa · · Score: 2, Informative

    I've always wondered how long it would take for these things to become available to the average consumer. What I really think should start getting popular are keyboards that shine on the desk, allowing you to type without the need for moving keys. This is a big step into mobile technology, and it can only grow bigger, and better!

  4. It's an addon ... by smk · · Score: 2, Informative

    You have to buy an extra shell to get this silly function (Available in Germany). It's like the old days when you had to buy a special battery to get vibration alarm, but this time the function is kind of useless. Imagine many people waving their mobiles in the air to communicate. Not to mention that you can't type and wave at the same time ...

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  5. Re:This would be great for... by Monkeyman334 · · Score: 2, Informative

    I've seen these things at raves (here's a pic from a rave site). A lot of times they just put up the name of the dj or something. It wasn't any more obnoxious than the 40 necklaces and bracelets and huge stuffed spongebob pacifier that the candy ravers wear.

  6. Re:I had that toy... by mikael · · Score: 2, Informative

    Maybe your looking for the Skyliner Virtual Message Writer.

    There used to be a road safety wand version, which allowed you to enter a preprogrammed message which would appear when the wand was waved from side to side in the air. However, I could ever figure how anyone would have the time or skill to fiddle around with the programming buttons in order to create a coherent message after an accident.

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  7. Re:I want one of this for my car! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    A friend of mine once setup a scrolling LED display in his rear window. Before installation he asked local & state police and found that unless you're an emergency vehicle (e.g. police, ambulance, fire truck), you cannot have a sign in your front window that is written backwards so as to be legible in the rearview mirror. LED, printed, anything.

    The idea is that people will be distracted trying to read the message and will get into an accident because they're stupid enough not to simultaneously pay attention to the road and read your message. Your state may have a different law, but it's something to think about.

    In my state, if an accident occurred while you were waving the phone, you would probably get arrested. At least 10 years ago, this was a felony, and with those you don't get a nice little paper ticket to drive away with, you get to experience the joy of having mom/dad/significant-other/good-friend bail you out out jail.

  8. Re:Hmmm by Cus · · Score: 2, Informative

    Heartily agree with you - one individual does not represent the crowd. I think the grandparent thinks of club DJs in the same breath as the 'turns' you get who play at wedding receptions.

    Instead, if you treat club DJs the same way you would a live band you'll get more out of it. Trust the DJ :-) When was the last time a live act paid attention to an individual in the crowd shouting for a song?

    If you want to hear the tunes you want all the time, stay at home or go somewhere that has a jukebox :-)

  9. Re:This would be great for... by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 3, Informative
    You obviously have never been to a real club then.

    REAL club DJs are very busy making cool creative mixes. They have their sets planned out already. And they DO respond to the crowd, however they don't do it through direct input like waving this kind of crap in their faces. They read peoples reactions to what they are playing and decide what to spin next and how to mix it.

    Any pro DJ in a club would be super pissed at you for waving this shit in their face.

    Maybe you should go to an actual club and figure out what club DJs actually do before you post ignorant comments like that.

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