Motorola Invest in Sensitive Object. Droid 2 and beyond?

[cereal killer]

This is interesting. Tactility on any surface of the device and using acoustics to interact.

Anybody seen this in action or know anything about it? It's patent protected so they could keep Apple at bay.

If they can implement this on their devices, and it appears they will/are, then Moto can have a serious advantage.

Can you say Droid 2 a complete 3D user experience : )
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Motorola Invests in Sensitive Object


December 03, 2009

SCHAUMBURG, Ill and PARIS, France. – December 3, 2009 – Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced that Motorola Ventures, the company’s strategic venture capital arm, made an investment in Sensitive Object, a leader in multi-touch anywhere platforms and natural user interface (NUI)

The company was created in October 2003 with an innovative and patent-protected technology capable of “tactilizing” any surface. This unique software technology leverages acoustics to analyze sound waves departing from the point of a touch to precisely and cost-effectively transform any product into a touch device. Sensitive Object’s ReverSys® software can be deployed in any product benefiting from “touch-based” user interfaces including touch screen and touch control in various markets such as mobile devices.


Sensitive Object’s Anywhere MultiTouch™ platform extends tactilization to any surface of a device allowing for virtual controls and next generation user-interfaces. As touch and haptics have become standard interaction expectations for personal computing and handheld devices, Sensitive Object demonstrates that acoustic (vs. resistive, capacitive, and optical) tactilization is the state of the art in terms of both performance and cost, and its platform will set a new standard for full 3D device tactilization.


“Natural user interface (NUI) and in particular interacting with a device through touch is an area of rapid development and great excitement,” said Reese Schroeder, managing director, Motorola Ventures. “Sensitive Object provides an innovative and unique approach allowing new ways of interaction. We’re most excited to be involved in their growth and success.”


“We are excited to be working closely with the Motorola team. Motorola is a perfect partner for our disruptive touch solution considering Motorola’s innovative and successful history with mobile phones,” said Hervé Martin, chief executive officer of Sensitive Object.

About Sensitive Object
Sensitive Object is a spin-off from the French Science National Research Centre (CNRS). Sensitive Object has been created in October 2003 and by August 2004 has received funding to speed up its development from Sofinnova Partners, a venture capital firm. Sensitive Object has a workforce of more than 20 engineers and has operations in Paris and Singapore. For more information please visit www.sensitive-object.com.

 

[Martin030908]

So the entire phone could be capable of registering 'touch'? WOW

 

[CorvetteAustin24]

This will be interesting to see how they implement the software! Since it states "software can be deployed in any product benefiting from “touch-based” user interfaces", it can incorporate it in to the Droid, no need for a Droid 2

I would love to see a demo of this, and this certainly gives Motorola a massive advantage if they can find a way to use it that creates value over other smartphones.

 

[Erren]

While this would certainly be huge news to us, a month after the OP's article was released the following occurred:

Sofinnova Partners and Motorola Ventures sell Sensitive Object to Tyco Electronics
Posted on: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:50:35 EST

Jan 28, 2010 (Datamonitor Financial Deals Tracker via COMTEX) --
Sofinnova Partners and Motorola Ventures have sold their stake in Sensitive Object, SA, a France-based developer of touch input technology, to Tyco Electronics, Ltd.

Tyco is a Switzerland-based designer, manufacturer and marketer of engineered electronic components and undersea telecommunication systems.

Tyco acquired all the shares of Sensitive Object for a consideration of approximately $62 million.

This does not mean nothing will come of it, but simply means Motorola has no stake in the company anymore. I'm sure they will still have interest in licensing the technology.