Tech Shout!

Synaptics Incorporated, together with Pilotfish have announced the introduction of Onyx, which happens to be the prototype of a next-gen mobile phone concept. The new concept phone uses Synaptics’ ClearPad, which is an optically clear capacitive touch screen solution. Synaptics’ ClearPad helps to create a fully adaptive user interface (UI).

The ClearPad input system eliminates the traditional mechanical keys found on the phones today. It dramatically adapts to present the information and controls that a user might require at any given moment.

The Onyx, the all new phone concept by Synaptics, uses touch-sensitive technology to control the device via its horizontally oriented screen. Touch-sensitive control is nothing new in phones, as in they’ve been there in Windows Mobile 5 phones for quite a while now. But Onyx recognizes not only points and taps, but also shapes and complex movements, together with multi-point input.

A phone call to Onyx can be answered by simply holding it to your cheek and messages can be sent by swiping them off the screen with the whole finger. Cool ain’t it?

Even though this is just a concept, Synaptics says the first phone using this technology will be out sometime this year. So stay tuned!