Tap Tech Brings Touch To Dumb Phones

nk497 writes "A Cambridge-based firm has come up with a way to bring touch interfaces to phones without touchscreens. According to TouchDevice, the system uses the microphone to turn any surface on a handset into a touch-sensitive input panel by analysing sound signatures. 'For example, where icons are displayed on a non-touch screen display, you could tap on there and it would activate the application,' said founder Mike Bradley. TouchDevice believes there are two markets for the technology: firstly to augment input potential in touchcreen smartphones, and secondly as a way of adding touch to 'dumb' displays. The system should be making its way into devices by early next year."

New excuse for drunk-dialing your ex...

[Locke2005]

"I dropped my phone, and the microphone-based touch detection interpreted as calling your number!"

Re:A boon for the touch phone knock off makers.

[Anomalyx]

If it doesn't work as well and is more expensive, expect to see Apple adopt it.

Fixed that for ya

Hey, it's the same thing they did with the antenna...

I should have waited...

[gsarig]

2 weeks ago I said goodbye to my 4 year old Sony Ericcsson K750i, and bought an iPhone... If I knew about that device, I would have waited... :P

Re:neat but no.

[by (1706743)]

If you are screaming in an argument, then you have already lost.

NOT TRUE!!! SCREAMING IN AN ARGUMENT MAKES YOU MORE RIGHT!!!

(This bit down here is to appease /.'s filters, as it thinks I'm yelling...no sense of humor at all.)

Re:A boon for the touch phone knock off makers.

[Jurily]

Cant wait to see the 10$ iPhony cell phones that use this rather then an actual touch screen.

Could we just let the whole touchscreen idea die instead? Please?

Re:A boon for the touch phone knock off makers.

[shri]

And I cant wait to see what happens to those iPhonys at a Stomp concert. :)