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Project-Natal-Style Interface For Mobile Phones

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the future-is-nowish dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The University of Tokyo is developing a Project-Natal-style interface for mobile phones, which allows you to interact with a phone by waving your finger around. Members of the Ishikawa-Komuro Lab have used a high-frame-rate camera to track the motion of a finger and recognise input gestures. The touchless interface can be used to navigate around a phone's screen and even to type."

3 of 49 comments (clear)

  1. Wow, that's stupid by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I can understand the appeal of Natal because it lets four people interact with a piece of hardware without holding anything. But if you already have to hold the phone, it seems more than a bit ridiculous to be finding ways to not touch it with your other hand. It's like finding a way to chew your food without it touching your tongue...

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  2. I could probably get used to it, but... by IndustrialComplex · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I guess I understand some of the 'neato' factor that this could have, but isn't one of the big issues introduced with simple touchscreens the LACK of haptic feedback?

    I love my iphone, but I miss being able to just reach into my pocket and dial a call, or skip a song/rewind, etc. Having to pull my phone out every time I want to do anything other than change the volume is damned annoying.

    I could just see this kind of interface being more annoying to use.

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  3. Public interface by need4mospd · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This would be pretty cool to slap into some public use areas like train stations, airports, movies, etc... Half the touchscreens I've used in public areas are always broken(or half working) after a couple years from people pounding on the screen when it won't respond. Slap a piece of plexiglass in front of it that you can replace when it gets damaged, saves the expense of a whole new touchscreen.