Squeezably Good? Hands-on with Synaptics’ Fuse Concept Phone

When you think of Synaptics, you probably think of notebok touchpads, but the company is hoping to bring a new dimension to the way we interact with mobile phones. We had a chance to go hands on with the compnay’s Fuse concept and found it to be rather compelling, even though it’s just a demo at this point. (Synaptics says the full user interface will be shown off at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month.) What makes the Fuse different from other touchscreen devices is that it has grip sensors built into the sides that activate when you squeeze them, as well as a touchpad on the back that lets you interact with the phone without obstructing–or smudging–the screen.

What you’ll see in the video is that when you squeeze the sides of the phone little balls appear, which you move around the screen using the accelerometer. You can then manipulate the balls by gliding your finger on the back of the device. So is this anything more than a parlor trick, or could it change the way we use mobile devices? Check out the video and decide for yourself.