Touchscreen technology has been around for over 50 years, but it came to the public's attention with products like 3M's Palm Pilot, and the products it spawned. It has become synonymous with mobile technology over the past decade, though it is not always the best way to interact with a device.

The current trend in alternative interfaces is voice, with technologies like Cortana changing the way we interact with phones and soon computers. Elliptic Labs is adding ultrasound gestures to the mix, though. Creating a field around device, the sensor can detect the position and motion of a hand around the device, which can be converted into gestures.

The technology is currently in prototype phase, being pitched to manufacturers. Elliptic Labs hopes to see the technology in products in the next year or two.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the Tech Podcast Network.

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