Instead of having physical hardware buttons to control mobile electronics, Synaptics decides to utilize their ClearPad Technology in a mobile environment so that the User Interface evolves and adapts to suit the users current needs. In other words, the dynamic User Interface will eliminate the need for traditional buttons and should be easier for the user to customize to his or her own needs. You ask, don’t touch screen based devices such as Windows Mobile Phones already offer the capability to customize the UI? Well yes, but no current touch screen device offers Synaptics ClearPad Technology. Synatics own website reveals,

"ClearPad is based on Synaptics’ proprietary sensing technology, and will offer unique capabilities such as two finger input, proximity sensing, text entry and high resolution finger input that can dramatically improve and enhance the user experience with a touch screen."

"The ClearPad accurately recognizes not only points and taps, but also shapes, complex gestures, and proximity to the user’s finger or cheek. This creates new possibilities such as assigning functions to two-finger taps, closing tasks by swiping an ‘X’ over them, sending messages by swiping them off the screen, or answering a phone by holding it up to your cheek. The prototype phone uses a dynamic UI, where applications are layered and opened simultaneously, allowing a seamless flow of information between applications," Synaptics said.

The concept of having a dynamic UI and advance touch screen input is great, but I’m not sure how valid Synaptics’ statement is on "no longer requiring traditional buttons". I believe that when a touch screen is capable of giving full tactile feedback just like physical buttons is when physical buttons will no longer be required. But if phone companies begin adopting the ClearPad input system in addition to the current hardware buttons, navigation on mobile devices, especially phones, should be a whole lot easier. From the looks of it the technology shouldn’t be hard to implement at all. "ClearPad is a thin, high resolution capacitive touch screen that can be placed over any viewable surface for finger input. Additionally, because ClearPad is solid state, it can be curved and mounted beneath plastics, offering mobile designers an opportunity to create sleek and stylized industrial designs." Says Synaptics Website. I guess the only barrier is cost.

For the time being, kudos to Synaptics for releasing such an interesting concept.

For more information regarding the Onyx Concept and ClearPad input, check out the official website here…