Join the dots
By , CNET Asia
21/06/2006

About the writer
Darius Chang is a notebook expert who occasionally dabbles in smaller mobile devices.

Despite the ubiquitous camera "eye" turning up on almost all mobile phones, NTT DoCoMo apparently feels it is not enough to just be able to "see". This prototype from the Japanese telco uses dot pattern recognition for painless data input to your mobile unit.

	A phone which can join the dots for you.

The picture on the book actually has a layer of dots written in invisible ink. Using the fat pen-like device, the pattern of the dots informs the phone to display the relevant data regarding the image. This also allows the dialing of a number or mail composition with a flick of the wrist over the correct picture.

We love the concept and can see a myriad uses for this technology. Instead of tediously typing in contact details, name cards can be stored instantaneously. Advertisements will more than meet the eye when you scan over a tag line with the pen and reveal product information and details. A whole new world of data may one day be available only to the one with the appropriate tools.