#IshaqJapan researchers testing tiny ear computerTokyo: A tiny personal computer that is worn on theear and can be controlled withthe blink of an eye or the clickof a tongue is being tested inJapan. The 17-gram (0.59-ounce)wireless device has bluetoothcapability and is equippedwith a GPS, compass, gyro-sensor, battery, barometer,speaker and microphone. Wearable computing isthought by manycommentators to be the nextbig thing in technology, withproducts such as Google Glassat the forefront. The device, known at themoment as the Earclip-typeWearable PC has a microchipand data storage, enablingusers to load software, saidengineer Kazuhiro Taniguchi of Hiroshima City University. Its designs are based ontraditional ikebana flowerarrangements. We have made this with thebasic idea that people willwear it in the same way theywear earrings, Taniguchi toldAFP in a recent interview as heshowcased a black prototype. The system, which developersare hoping to have ready forChristmas 2015, can beconnected to an iPod or othergadget and would allow theuser to navigate through software programmes usingfacial expressions, such as araised eyebrow, a stuck-outtongue, a wiggle of the noseor by clenching teeth. The device uses infraredsensors that monitor tinymovements inside the ear,which differ depending onhow the eyes and mouthmove. Because the user does nothave to move either hand, itsdevelopers say it can serve asa third hand for everyonefrom caregivers to rock-climbers, motorbike riders to astronauts, as well as peoplewith disabilities. Supposing I climb a mountain,look at the sky at night andsee a bright star up there, itcould tell me what it is,Taniguchi said. As it knows what altitude Imat, which direction Im lookingand at what angle, it could tellme, The bright star you areseeing now is Sirius. Using a smartphone to connectto the Internet would meanyou could be automatically putin touch with people infaraway places who are doingthe same thing as you. This could connect you with aperson who is looking at thesame star at a remote place atthe same time, enabling thepeople to swap impressions,Taniguchi said. A second version of the devicemight be pressed into use tohelp relatives keep an eye onelderly family in greying Japan. The earpiece, which could alsofunction as a hearing aid, couldmonitor the wearers health,including their pulse and bodytemperature, while logginghow often they eat and sneeze, offering early warningof the onset of illness. An onboard accelerometercould tell when the user fallsand instruct the smartphone topass information to relatives,or call an ambulance based onGPS data. Tests are being carried out inHiroshima, with the aim ofcommercialising the devicefrom April 2016.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:14:14 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015