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Matt Brian
Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him on Twitter, subscribe to his updates on Facebook and catch up with him Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him on Twitter, subscribe to his updates on Facebook and catch up with him on Google+.
Imagine a world where you could click your fingers and you could instantly make a phone call home.
The concept is like something out of a movie yet researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Microsoft have developed a device that can turn your skin into a touch screen and use your arm as an input device.
Appropriately named Skinput (Skin Input), the device is set to detect different sound wavelengths generated when an arm or a hand is tapped, allowing the wearer to complete a function like sending a text message or making a phone call.
To use Skinput, a sophisticated armband is attached to the upper arm, around the bicep area, that will listen for any sound waves moving up or down the arm. A pico projector is then attached to the wearers shoulder, turning the arm into a body display, completing the device. The sound waves can be associated with a function displayed by the projector, opening the possibility of interacting with a mobile device or personal computer via radio technologies like Bluetooth.
Skinput has an accuracy of 95% when detecting taps on a users arm and can be used when the body is in motion.
The technology could be used to take gaming to a new level, allow the disabled or visually impaired to interact with devices just by tapping their forearm, the possibilities of this device could be endless.
[Source – CNET]
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