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Is the Bar of Soap Tomorrow's Smarterphone?

Posted by timothy on from the next-generation-uses-earwax-proximity dept.

Barence writes "Researchers at MIT have developed a gadget that knows whether you want to use it as a camera or smartphone, just by the way you're holding it. So, if you hold the device, dubbed the Bar of Soap, out in front of you like a camera it will automatically bring up an LCD viewfinder. However, if you then switch to holding it as you would a mobile phone, it will bring up a touchscreen keypad instead. The Bar of Soap utilises a three-axis accelerometer and 72 surface sensors to track the position of the user's fingers and its position."

6 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. Great by clarkkent09 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I look forward to the day when I wont have to face the arduous task of pressing the camera button when I want to switch to camera mode. And I am sure I won't look like an idiot twisting and shaking my phone back and forth, trying to get the damn camera on (like with iPhone switching portrait/lansdcape mode) because the feature will work flawlessly every time. Sorry, I tend to be in a sarcastic mood early in the morning. Yes, I know it's 1pm.

    --
    Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
    1. Re:Great by cayenne8 · · Score: 5, Funny
      Hmm...sounds like a PITA.

      Have they never seen anyone lay down while they talk on the phone. I'd be pissed if I was laying down, heard the phone ring, picked it up, and when I said hello, I heard the fscking thing taking pictures of my ear.....

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    2. Re:Great by PuckSR · · Score: 5, Funny

      I agree...

      Have you heard about the new computer interface devices called "mice"? They try to interface with a computer via movement of the device across a flat surface rather than just typing in a command. Absolutely useless, and I bet they don't work worth a crap

      "There is no evidence that people want to use these things."--John Dvorak(discussing the computer mouse)

      Useless and silly technology!

  2. what if? by sl0ppy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    what if i want to take a picture of something in front of me, on my desk, while i am sitting down. i've actually done this a few times, so it's not too much to ask.

    hopefully there will be an easy override button i can press?

    sometimes gadgets try too hard to be "smart", and end up infuriating the end users.

  3. Joy by illegalcortex · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Please god, no. I already curse my iPod Touch frequently enough when it decides how to rotate the screen for me. For example, ever try web surfing while lying down? What I wouldn't give for a "lock screen orientation" button.

  4. Kids don't want to hold a phone like a camera. by pavon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    My younger brother got a new touchscreen phone the other day and was complaining about how the camera button was in a horrible spot, and was hard to use without pressing other buttons. I picked it up and held it sideways like a camera and none of my fingers came close to touching any buttons, except for the camera button that was under my right index finger right where the shutter button should be.

    Me: Seems fine to me.
    Him: Why would anyone want to hold it like *that*?

    I still can't convince him to to not hold it like you would when taking a picture with a flip-phone.