Gadgets: Sensus Smart Case

First came the touchscreen smartphone. This summer, expect touch technology to come to the smartphone case for the first time.

Canopy is expected to release its Sensus Smartphone Case in a couple months. Users can touch and swipe the back and right side of the protective phone case to produce actions on the screen. Imagine playing a game without your fingers blocking the on-screen action. Or how about being able to see what's on the screen while you're typing an e-mail or text message? Scroll down a Web page by sliding your finger down the side of your smartphone case.

Three promising features of the Sensus are:

Photography: Take photos and operate your zoom and white balance without blocking the shot on your screen.

Maps: Move around or enlarge smartphone maps without blocking the roads and landmarks you're looking at.

Handicapped-accessible: The case is designed to make typing in braille on the iPhone much easier and less expensive than methods currently available.

Less touches on your screen means much less of those annoying smudges and schmutz that make your current screen so messy and unappealing.

Canopy claims that when users touch the case, "The touch sensors talk with the micro-processors in Sensus and transmit that information to the phone."

One other thing seems certain: App developers will have to incorporate programming into their apps to take advantage of the Sensus technology, but the opportunities and possibilities seem limitless.

Sensors in the Sensus will be able to translate some 10 types of touches. This product will start with models for the iPhone 4, 4S and 5.

Phil Pikelny is vice president of Dispatch Digital and chief marketing officer of The Dispatch Printing Company.