Sloshing Cellphones Reveal Their Contents

holy_calamity writes "UK researchers have developed software that represents a handset's battery life by using a phone's speaker and vibrator to make a device feel and sound like it contains liquid. You give it a shake to find out how much is left. The same technique can be used to represent new messages by simulating balls rattling around inside a box. It runs on recent Nokias with accelerometers; video from the researchers explains it well." What a bizarrely fun idea.

Comments

A cellphone without an accelerometer...

[$RANDOMLUSER]

Is like a cow without an altimeter.

Apostrophe abuse in summary

[operagost]

Nokia's

An apostrophe does not mean, "Look out! Here comes an S!"

Terror Alert!

[CheeseburgerBrown]

I think this is a good idea -- harnessing already honed human perceptions and using them to relieve some of the bandwidth hogging our visual senses are subjected to. It could be quite intuitive, and save valuable screen real estate.

On the other hand, I guess it means we can't take our mobile phones on airplanes anymore, can we?

Homeland Security Agent: "How much liquid is in that phone?"

You: "None. It's virtual liquid."

Homeland Security Agent: "It sounds like at least a few ounces."

You: "Virtual liquids have neither volume nor weight."

Homeland Security Agent: "Do I look stupid to you?"

You: "Can I take the fifth on that?"

Homeland Security Agent: "That's Mistake Number Two, bub. Quoting from documents concerning the governance or liberties of American citizens is suspicious activity Level Blue. Ever heard of Ron Paul?"

You: "Uh, sure."

Homeland Security Agent: "You're under arrest."