MagiTact hands-free phone control makes multitouch seem absolutely passe
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted February 23rd 2010 1:56PM
posted February 23rd 2010 1:56PM
Are you sick of your needy cellphone, always asking that you pick it up in order to perform essential tasks? Well, the brain wizards at Deutsche Telekom (pictured above) have just the thing for you: MagiTact is an app that uses your phone's compass (provided your phone has a compass) to track changes in the magnetic field around the device. This creates the possibility of a whole host of gesture-based commands, such as silencing a ringing phone or terminating a call, without having physical contact with the device -- as long as you're wearing magnetic rings on your fingers. Another interesting possibility is a pinch-to-zoom function that takes place behind the phone, so your fingers don't obscure the map as you speed away from that ill-fated bank heist -- but seeing as how the technology still only works about ninety percent of the time, we wouldn't recommend using it to make your getaway. [Warning: source link requires subscription]
[Thanks, Ernesto]
[Thanks, Ernesto]
Which OS had the metal detector app that used the compas like this already?
@fencesitter All Android Phones...
@fencesitter all s60 5th ed with compass
@bluefisch200 It's the oh-so-uniquely-named "Metal Detector" app. Probably not related the the iPhone app with the same name. Or there's the copycat ""Easy Metal Detector."
I can see this being useful for people that don't have arms.
@xKNGx did u read the article? O.o as i understood the article it would be hard to use without arms...
@xKNGx Why would someone without arms have a cell phone, especially one with a touch screen? Besides, you kinda need to wear rings to make it work, and and no arms means no fingers.
@xKNGx
Toe rings?
@xKNGx Don't worry, some people got it.
Why am I robbing a bank again?
(That was kinda stupid)
@ale
So when did you stop working at Wall Street?
Interesting concept. But how helpful is it to run around with magnets on your fingers? I mean, don't they still wipe credit card data and can potentially (though unlikely) wipe flash data?
Or am I just showing my ignorance and age here when it comes to magnets?
@Serus Its REALLY hard to wipe data off CCs.
@ipxnsv I've wiped data off my credit cards before on accident with a high powered magnet, so it's not incredibly difficult. Also, I've wiped hotel room keys just by putting them in my wallet with my credit cards. Apparently they (hotel keys) are really easy to wipe.
@Serus Subdermal magnet implants aren't new, just not very well done.
I believe the article goes into some of the interesting aspects of them besides phone control.
@fencesitter Grr... I guess you can't embed links: http://www.wired.com/gadgets/mods/news/2006/06/71087
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magnetic-vision
http://dvice.com/archives/2009/05/8-body-implants.php
etc.
@Serus
FYI
I don't know where your from, but in the UK we have microchips instead of magnetic strips in our credit cards, so the data is safe in magnetic fields.
Also flash is a microchip which will be unaffected by magnetic fields though there may be a negligible transient current induced in the circuit due to maxwells law.
To wipe things off flash you need a large voltage drop across the circuit.
However, hard drives are traditionally magnetic disks, so these may be susceptible to outside magnetic fields, but not being my area of expertise I can't really say. Just a thought.
But yes bit shit having magnetic rings on your fingers, though you could pretend to be vader......
How can this app work on the iPhone without multi-tasking? Photoshop an android, symbian, wm phone into that image instead.
Multi tasking coming soon in the next OS update.. Bitches.
@Ben850
When have they ever stated that? We don't know that for sure yet.
@Evan Hater!!! Because the iPhone is the best and most popular smartphone!!! DURRR!!!
/s
My phone doesn't have a compass, but it has a protractor.
Mind-blowing...
I can see my wife screaming at me "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?" as my hands flail around my phone trying to make a call...
I'll stick with touch thanks.
Stink lines.
@To Hell
yeah, who knows where those hands have been; presumably not on the phone.
Soon we'll be able to control our electronics just by modulating the degree of our sexual arousal.
@cobaltage
uhhh...no.
@cobaltage
Psh... I can already do that!
@cobaltage
Role reversal !
@cobaltage
You've trouble making calls? Try the blue pill !
I like the touch interface as it is, it restricts how much a person can move their hands and arms. This thing would just lead to huge numbers of idiots flailing around trying to send a text message.
Am I supposed to be impressed by this? I can control my iPhone 5g with my mind!!
@calebgriffin
please, we're all dying to know...does that baby multitask?
@iroq d mullet No, because I only have a one-track mind :)
wouldn't that kill the battery (constantly monitoring and calculating stuff)?
Sorry, but you lost me at "wearing magnetic rings on your fingers." No thanks. Making magical gestures above your phone while wearing magical magnetic rings? That's like double-dipping yourself in douchiness.
@sonicyoof you would need at least revolutionary magical magnets that are highly incredible awesome. Put an Apple on them and I'm in ;)
I can just imagine someone flailing their arms around in public trying to make a phone call. LMAO.
sounds very similar to the plans Microsoft was rumored to have lined up for wp7, I wonder why they never fallowed through with those... hmmm oh well wp7 still has my money hahaha
I just want to say that this was the first time I sent a tip to engadget, and it got published!
It's a great feeling to find out that your favorite site really listens to you.
:)
Ernesto
@sourav
The articles not apple related, the picture just is, and there has been plenty of touchless phone articles in the past on Engadget. The thing that makes this interesting vs. other non touch tech is that this uses already established hardware. Its just a piece of software that could enable touchless gestures. I don't know if I buy into the usefulness of this implementation but it is still interesting.
Use the force Obi Wan...
Jazz hands not included
Cool.. Incoming call that you don't want to answer just give your phone the finger. How satisfying!
The possibility's are endless....
now what would be really stupid is if they made cellphone devices with no way to answer the phone other than this. LOL image staring at a ringing cellphone u couldnt answer because u lost your magnetic finger things or whatever. fail.
this should be tagged as apple >:{