RSSDon't blink or you'll shut it off: The next iPod remote control
By Michael Hatamoto | Published March 4, 2008, 4:40 PM
An Osaka University Graduate School of Engineering Science researcher successfully created a new technology that allows users to control their Apple iPod MP3 players, and possibly other items, by blinking and winking.
Kazuhiro Taniguchi built the technology, called Kome Kami Switch (Temple Switch), using a computer chip and two infrared sensors that can accurately differentiate between intentional blinks for controlling the iPod and inadvertent blinks. The chip and infrared sensors are small enough that researchers hope to be able to build the system directly into select glasses frames.
A user closes her eyes for one second to start the iPod, winks strongly for one second to rewind, and winks the other eye to go back one song. To turn the system off, she blinks both eyes for a full second. Users who can only wink in one eye will be able to modify the system to allow two successive winks to have a function.
According to Taniguchi, humans blink quickly and softly in what can be described as an energy-saving method, but people using the Temple Switch will blink more intentionally, in a way that's detectable and distinguishable electronically.
Since Temple Switch is a hands-free system, it can be used by cyclists, nurses, astronauts, and the disabled. The system could theoretically be utilized to operate TVs, mobile phones, home entertainment systems, and house lights. Osaka University and Taniguchi hope to be able to commercialize the technology within the next three years.
Taniguchi is currently working on a similar system where a user clinches his teeth to control an iPod or other device.
This has got to be one of the most stupid, and useless gadget add-ons I've ever seen. And yet, I'm sure they'll manage to find their niche market - which is a very sad truth for the human race to realize...
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that's exactly my thought, but with much more despise.
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Gene Simmons used to be able to do this same thing with different devices in the movie 'Runaway' back in 1984.
I wonder if that's where they got the idea from.
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Besides epileptics or whatever, without going to stupid cases:
Anyone else is with me in the thought that this is the most pure unnecesary b*lls***???
if you are epileptic then f*ck off, go buy a regular iPod idiot! Cut the sh*t commentaries for a while people!
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Knob. [tsk]
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blinking eyes, clinching teeth ... WTF ... controlling electronics with ADD symptons ...how about telepathic control? now there's something to look forward to.
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I like the development of next gen interfaces and technology like this, however...
I believe that they should first be ultimately refined and integrated with other prospective technology in order to provide a new future of digital xyz...
The problem is that these things flood the market and have not yet grown to their full potential. This also leaves no time for integration or other developments. Becomes a 'fad' and is forgotten pretty quickly imo.
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Wink on.
*wink* *wink*
Wink off.
*wink* *wink*
Wink on wink off...THE WINKER!
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What about Epileptics and Autistics?
Useless crap as usual.
By the way, I've noticed the noise floor in the 80GB iPod raises to three times it's normal level when the screen is off for some reason. Try it out if you don't believe me.
I have it hooked up to a dual trace o-scope to see exactly how distorted and noisy the output stage really is. I will report my findings just to shut all you idiots up who think it's a great music player.
I can already see the distortion (clipped wavs) with the EQ setting at "flat", when you turn on bass boost they go throught the roof, square waves start to appear at half volume.
Pure junk.
And yes .... I do know what I am talking about. I used to compete with IASCA and had two perfect scores in SQ.
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I think because of the useability with the ipod, people deal with it (I have a 2gb nano but it interfaces perfectly with my jvc stereo in my car.) I just recently got the sansa and it can interface with my car as well via usb but is missing some options the ipod has and doesn't save my settings, I am considering rockbox but I don't know if that would make any difference with that particular issue.
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"I will report my findings just to shut all you idiots up who think it's a great music player."
A great music player isn't just based on sound quality.
I do agree, it's by no means the best for sound quality; it does however have an exceptional UI.
And as it has been proven, people don't give a flying toss about (sound) quality when ease of use comes in to the picture.
Out of interest, what have you found in your experiments to be the best quality portable audio player, thus far?
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"What about Epileptics and Autistics?
Useless crap as usual."
That's a really stupid thing to say. That's like saying we shouldn't have stairs because some people are in wheelchairs and can't use them. Don't forget those 3D glasses either, they're useless for one eyed people without depth perception. See where I'm going with this?
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No.
Maybe they could have an iPod remote that navigates via bodily discharge. Pissing, s***ting, farting, belching.
It would be about as useful. And besides, people in wheelchairs have no business being around stairs just as people on hospital gurnees have no business being on a half pipe.
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Even the UI is clumsy, where is the home option to take you back to the main screen as opposed to menu, menu, menu, menu, menu? Same with Garmin and thier, back, back, back, up to eight times.
I think I know a thing or two about UI's.
You just proved my point about how clueless people really are. A bunch of half dead zombies who take advice from thier pot smoking 30 year old brother in law about electronics.
Want to laugh?
http://www.engadgethd.co...tween-monster-cable-and/
Here is how dumb people are. They buy Monster speaker cable at $10 a foot when a coat hanger sounds just as good.
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"A great music player isn't just based on sound quality."
That's like saying "A great projector isn't based on picture"
You must have BOSE and Monster cable in your house. I think you drank the Kool-Aid in Jonestown.
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Try reinstalling your software or updating it. Mine doesn't do it. I have the thicker 80GB ipod (not the new "classic" 80GB)
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Then epileptics have no business using a winking interface... I don't see the problem.
I get that you don't think it's practical and that it won't catch on. Maybe not. But you can't know for sure until it's been marketed and tried. And the more crazy ideas people try, the better chance one of them will actually work well and catch on.
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Who said anything about Monster cable?
Oh, yeah. That was you.
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"Useless crap as usual."
Really?
Such interfaces can prove VERY useful for handicapped users - and by that I mean those with impaired use of limbs and motor skills - not merely the brain dead among us such as yourself.
And as far as "know(ing) what (you are) talking about"...yup, assuming you are a proctologist, considering the amount of time you spend with your head up your @ss.
The real point he has to make is that he is a @%#$ fanboy who saw the word Apple, Mac, i(anything) and simply can't control any of his bodily functions.
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"remote that navigates via bodily discharge. Pissing, s***ting, farting, belching."
What...and deal with yet another frivolous suit over patent rights?
Your repeated demonstration of such skills would make such a claim to having developed such technology incredibly difficult to defend.
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"I used to compete with IASCA and had two perfect scores in SQ."
ROFLMAO!
The prepubescents who put $100K of electronic equipment playing at 130dB and then use a TEF analyzer simply as an SPL meter!
When all they demonstrate is that they can identify every thing in the car that rattles, with fidelity that justifies rap - the misuc for people who can't play music.
And he complains about the low-fi formats, shocked that they aren't hi-fi. After playing with your thump car, how would you know. So much for the alignment of acoustic origins in time!
ROFLMAO!
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I was simply pointing out how people fall for marketing and pay through the nose for inferior, overpriced products.
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"You must have BOSE and Monster cable in your house"
No, I have a pair of fairly new Mission speakers, a NAD amp and CD player.
No, it's not the best money can buy, but it's not s*** either.
"A great music player isn't just based on sound quality."
just is the key word here. While indeed it is very nice to have top class sound quality it's almost worthless if you can't get to your music in the first place.
Also, did I mention if it was my own opinion or that of the general public? Nope. And as you can quite clearly see from the sales figures, it really doesn't matter about sound quality.
Really now, what is the best that you have found so far, or did you just get pissy over the iPod and only test that?
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"I think I know a thing or two about UI's."
Oooo, big man.
"You just proved my point about how clueless people really are."
I hope I did, it was what my point was.
That's one of the reasons why everyone has an iPod.
They've gone "OoooOOoOoo Pretty" and bought it.
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"where is the home option to take you back to the main screen?"
Had a look at the iPod touch at all?
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"...simply can't control any of his bodily functions."
You seem to be the only person here frothing at the mouth.
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Foxfyre,
While you do have a point, it's very hard to believe this has been developed with the handicapped in mind. This just seems to be another gadget trying to be the coolest thing in the season. I had a huge laugh at the company's comment that this could be useful for nurses. Imagine a nurse trying to apply an injection while listening to Black Sabbath. ;-)
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So epileptics have no business being around this? Huh?
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If you have a stroke with that thing on will it cause the ipod to go nuts?
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