Sunday, March 8, 2009

Japanese gadget controls iPod in blink of an eye


I wonder what action sticking out tongue does

Source: Google

A wink, a smile or a raised eyebrow could soon change the music on your iPod or start up the washing machine, thanks to a new Japanese gadget.

The device looks like a normal set of headphones but is fitted with a set of infrared sensors that measure tiny movements inside the ear that result from different facial expressions.

The gizmo -- called the "Mimi Switch" or "Ear Switch" -- is connected to a micro-computer that can control electronic devices, essentially making it a hands-free remote control for anything.

"You will be able to turn on room lights or swing your washing machine into action with a quick twitch of your mouth," said its inventor, Kazuhiro Taniguchi of Osaka University.

"An iPod can start or stop music when the wearer sticks his tongue out, like in the famous Einstein picture. If he opens his eyes wide, the machine skips to the next tune. A wink with the right eye makes it go back.

"The machine can be programmed to run with various other facial expressions, such as a wriggle of the nose or a smile."



Wow. We're this lazy now. We have an iPod in our hands and we can't even reach down to adjust it. I don't know how this will work. Don't we make many facial reactions in a day? So if a boy tells me I'm cute and I blush, will my music change from rap to ballads?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now we can all be like "Samantha Stevens" from "Bewitched" ... a little twitch of the nose and stuff happens.

Elver said...

Holy shit! I want to make iPhone games that use facial expressions as a joystick! :D

Degenerasian said...

Wouldn't that cause jawcramps!?

Elver said...

We'll just call it The JawBreaker! :P

Degenerasian said...

I think you've got something there.
You'd make millions from both gamers and plastic surgeons :)