I recently read “Scratch Input: Creating Large, Inexpensive, Unpowered and Mobile Finger Input Surfaces”, a paper by Chris Harrison and Scott E. Hudson. The paper describes Scratch Input, input based solely on the sound produced when a fingernail is dragged across a textured material. Scratch Input is put forth with the main purpose of providing a large input surface for small mobile devices. A device that contains one of these sensors allows surfaces that the device rests upon to become input devices. The unique sounds created by fingernail scratching are easily filtered from extraneous sounds. The sensor itself is a modified stethoscope and microphone combo. The spatial location of input is not determinable. Although Scratch Input can support dozens of unique gestures, not all possible gestures have a unique sound. Slick surfaces generally do not work. However, fabric works, such as the jeans you are wearing. Accuracy seems to be fairly good. Mass production price is estimated to be less than a dollar a sensor. I honestly did not see this coming, but I now look forward to Scratch Input devices.
I think that this would be a really neat feature to add to the Nintendo DS. It already has the capability to use blowing on it as an input and this would add to its already impressive interactiveness.
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