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."

Comments

Innovation?

[BWJones]

OK, the social engineering that is going on here is getting out of control. It's bad enough that you have someone talking on their phones in the elevator/restaurant/movie theatre or on the subway behind you about all sorts of things (many of which are quite personal), but now we are going to get people gesticulating madly, waving their arms back and forth to send messages.

Lets have some real innovation, yes? Rather than fun and games with LEDs, what I would like to see some real innovation in in terms of interaction with cell phones much like iChatAV (prevents having to remember phone numbers etc...), whereby you could call someone wherever they may be over TCP/IP or have servers automatically negotiate phone calls through traditional land lines if the receiver of the call is not available on the iChatAV equivalent. It could be relatively easy to establish a hierarchy of places to contact a person starting with VOIP, then progressing on down to sending a voice to text message at the very last.

Right now at least, we do have phones (V600) that will automatically negotiate networks (so I can have one phone to travel with internationally rather than having to keep two or three depending upon the networks), but most of these phones have maddening interfaces and that in of itself could use some thought and effort. Look, placing GUI interfaces on lots of stuff is OK if it streamlines your operation of the device, but the phone companies and even automobile manufacturers are using lousy GUI interfaces to perform simple tasks. (I absolutely refuse to consider the new BMW's because of that stupid GUI that has to be navigated through three screens to change the radio station or move the seat or change the temperature.

Sorry for the rant.

Re:Innovation?

[snooo53]

I too am disappointed that more companies don't make devices that let you configure things yourself. I too wish I could tweak menus and defaults. To me personally, it doesn't matter if it's open source or not... but it would be nice to have more control.

I guess I can see a reason why companies don't like to do this... because inevitably people who manage to break their phones will complain and bog down the tech support/return centers. But all this could be solved by simply having a "reset button". Put a copy of the firmware in ROM... as soon as the button is pressed it reverts to that. Very simple. I can't think of a single reason not to do something like that. People would love having that much control of their phone. Look at how popular ringers and backgrounds have become.

innovation?? i think not

[fodi]

ahhh... this is what happens when your R&D dept. can't keep up with the marketing dept...

gimmiks for the kiddies...

Re:This would be great for...

[Johnathon_Dough]

As a part time DJ, I can say with some authority, that this is a good way to get your phone thrown across the room.

It's bad enough being surrounded by bouncing people and seizure inducing light shows with out some jackass waving their blinking cell phone at me to play some song I have no intention of playing anyway.

Ugh!

[Bill_Royle]

I can see two positive things happening with this technology:

1. People using this who accidentally hit people in the process will be sued, prompting them to stop using it.

2. People using this may develop carpal tunnel or dislocations, prompting them to stop using it.

Enough's enough. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should - someone throw the engineer that came up with this off a cliff!