Olympus has taken the wraps off a new compact digital camera that will enable avid shutterbugs to activate a variety of device settings by simply tapping on the camera’s body.

Many consumers are already familiar with the motion-sensor technology built into gaming consoles that translate physical motion into electronic commands, noted Nadine Clark, Olympus product manager. The Stylus 1050 SW employs similar technology.

“Adjusting the camera settings is intuitive considering the whole camera reacts to the way it’s tapped,” Clark said. “When you absolutely must get the shot in fit conditions, the Stylus 1050 SW is the camera to have at your side.”

Photo Tap Dance

Featuring a 10.1-megapixel imaging sensor, the Stylus 1050 SW is housed in a rugged body that renders it impervious to sudden shocks, freezing temperatures and water. Olympus even goes as far as to claim that the new digital camera can survive five-foot drops onto the ground, operate

in a snowstorm or even go swimming, and keep on clicking.

However, the camera’s main claim is that it can be controlled by means of a simple tap on its top, back or sides. The camera’s built-in 3-D accelerometer detects the direction of the force impinging on the camera’s body and converts it into individual commands. To activate the camera’s flash or built-in shadow-adjustment technology, the user simply needs to tap twice on the camera’s side.

The tap technology could come in handy whenever users operate the device under less-than-optimal environmental conditions, such as when outdoor temperatures drop below freezing. For example, users forced to wear gloves will find it much easier to tap on the camera’s body than push a button or adjust a knob.

Even better, the lightweight, aluminum exterior of the Stylus 1050 SW mates with interior rubber gaskets and O-rings that tightly seal out…

Original post by dhiram