Why Nokia’s N-series of multimedia devices have yet to see a multi-touch interface? To this question, Nokia’s chief designer, Alastair Curtis, at a recent cocktail party said, “We’ve not launched what we think is right for N-series in a touch product. You’ll see in the coming months, years…what we feel is right.” Nokia launched their first touchscreen handset, the 5800, only a couple of months back. While Alastair Curtis didn’t say anything clear cut, he did mention of gesture control for mobile phones and the words go well with a patent filed by Nokia in the month of January this year. The patent points to use of an ultrasonic-based system to detect a user’s hand motion and gesture.
Simple gestures such as opening or closing of a hand will control the opening and closing of a program on your device’s screen. It would be too early to comment much. Let’s wait and watch for the time Nokia launches their first gesture-controlled mobile device.