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Touch-based Handhelds Turned Inside Out
holy_calamity writes "Mitsubishi and Microsoft have made a prototype PSP-like handheld operated using a touch interface on the back — the idea is to give a firmer hold, prevent obscuring the screen and allow greater accuracy than the iPhone and others. The users fingers are shown as shadows on the screen so they can see what they're doing, making the device look transparent. As a video shows, it's far from market ready, but the design principle seems sound."
Shadowy fingers behind the back of screen images should be a big advance for Porn Digital Assistants. I predict a win for this one.
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
Only con I can think of is being able to instantly touch a certain point. It'd seem like with the "touching" on the back that you'd need to touch somewhere first to get your orientation, then touch where you want to go.
Beyond that, I think this would be very practical.
While this looks like a great idea and all, I can't help but wonder how this will translate into smaller mobile devices. Something thie size of the iPhone (just to pick a random example ;) doesn't really have space for two hands. If you pick up your own mobile phone and drag your fingers around the back of it, you'll find it a bit more cumbersome than holding your phone in the palm of your hand and touching the front of the device.
That said, this could be an important development for tablet PC's. From my perspective, it seems tablets suffer from a lack of keyboard input. Sure you can plug in a keyboard, but that kinda defeats the purpose. This looks like it could be the solution to that problem.
Go these guys!
this post is now diamonds!
OK, I was thinking, "yeah, so what" until they got to the part where they type on the keyboard. You could seriously type on that thing as fast as on a regular keyboard, because of the way they laid it out. Hold it and type at the same time.
But the webcam on the back is great. I love it. It's like headgear for handhelds. Want to be the master of geekiness? Look no further my friend: the handheld that neither fits in your hand NOR your pocket! Useless you say? Yes, but it's cool!!
Qxe4
On that note, how do you hold it when you are actively using it? Telekineticly hover it between your hands so that they aren't touching? Or more realistically, very carefully balance it on your thumbs? I can't come up with a way to hold the thing as demonstrated in the video without a stand or something - which doesn't make it very portable.
At some point if this is intended to be used with mobile devices, one of the hands is going to have to become dedicated to holding the thing while the other does the gestures.
You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
just not waiting as long
http://www.macrumors.com/2007/05/10/patent-multisided-and-touch-screen-ipod/
and the actual patent
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=20070103454&OS=20070103454&RS=20070103454
Your'e all thinking it, I just said it for you
It corrently works by having a camera sitting behind it and viewing the fingers as they move. If they build the camera into the device it would have to have a very wide angle and be able to distinguish between the fingers and the background.
) Human Kind Vs Human Creation
) It'd be interesting to see how many humans would survive to serve us.
Actually if you watch the video the demonstrator explains that the camera method is interim, claiming technological limitations. I think this technology would catch on pretty quickly considering we are pretty used to using our hands (..) to manipulate our environment. Watching it makes one think about how inefficient tactile, one-sided input is while your hands essentially fumble around at the back of the device.
I don't know about the Apple patent but I'd be happy to see a technology like this make it into handheld devices where screen space is limited and dragging hands or fingers constantly over your workspace is less then optimal.
Quack, quack.
They are about 1/2 the length of your hand and useless for tapping data (aside from maybe squeeze). I find myself holding just about anything two handed and I drum my fingers or generally move them around idly. This would let you grip the device while interacting comfortably. But it used a front and rear touch system, so if it did become troubling you could use your thumbs on the front or just one hand it when appropriate and problem solved. I think this a good thing and it should be very intuitive and very flexible. Apple's certainly started the ball rolling.
Quack, quack.
0 to godwin's law in .5 sec. I do so wish that was a record but sadly, no.
Accordion Hero anyone?
It's an interesting idea there is no doubt about that. I really liked the map browsing right up to the point where I noticed the zooming in action looked a lot like he was trying to reproduce goatse with the map. The device will never been the same for me.
I used to have a better sig but it broke.
Haha, Sceintology.
-The world would be a better place if everyone had a hoverboard
Yeah, and apparently I'm well-known and a leader now! I did not receive that memo yet. The raise will be nice once the Marcabs finally get caught up on my back-pay.
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
Gee I thought the idea was to moderate the post not the author of the post.
-- QED
I thought Slashdot had a tradition of welcoming evil overlords.