FGadgets » Future Phones

Skin-Based Interface Transforms The Body Into A Touchscreen

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:24:23 +0000

Touchscreen interfaces have seen many transformations over time, from small displays to large ones from cellphone displays to computers; they have been incorporated into just everything. Now a new skin-based interface dubbed the Skinput will get touchscreen flashing onto a user’s hands and arms. The interface being developed by Chris Harrison from Carnegie Mellon University with Dan Morris and Desney Tan at Microsoft’s research lab uses a micro-sized pico projector and an acoustic detector which detects ultra-low frequency sounds generated by finger tapping on the skin.

The projector embedded in an armband beams a keyboard, menu and other graphics onto the user’s forearm and hand, while the acoustic detector stationed in the armband senses the icon which the user touches. The included software then matches the sound frequencies with specific skin locations letting the interface identify the skin button (the icon on the skin) being pressed. The Skinput can well identify gestures even when the body is in motion, and as we learn, can also support wireless applications like Bluetooth for connectivity with electronics. This fancy yet feasible approach to use the body as an input device would be up on display at the Computer-Human Interaction meeting in Atlanta, Georgia in April.

Other novel interface concepts that’ll make good someday:

This skin-based interface is surely a novel interface concept, which when complete would turn our own body into an input surface. But this isn’t the first unique interface concept which we will use in the days to come. While discussing the Skinput we thought it was worth bringing our memories live to the other few interface concepts which have made it to the fore over time.

Muscle-computer interface

Scott Saponas, a Ph.D. student at the University of Washington, has developed what he calls a muscle-computer interface, which along with other things allows the user to play Guitar Hero without a guitar. This lets you control the electronic devices without the need for physical touch, just like the other gestural interfaces of course, the difference here is that EMG electrodes directly sense the electrical signals in the arms to detect finger movements which mimic the button presses.

Touch-free interface

The in-air gesture input interface developed by researchers at Tokyo University is what you may be eyeing as a solution for touchscreens. The in-air movements of the finger are translated into commands by a high-frame-rate 3D camera, letting the user operate the portable device without a touch.

Microsoft’s transparent interface

The transparent glass interface from Microsoft Research lets the body to be used as a control mechanism, which recognizes inputs through touch-free gestures and eye-tracking. The content can be manipulated with the help of voice commands or some other notable hand gestures, and in case you’re concentrating too much on something particular, the computer interface can automatically enlarge the same based on the eye-tracking technology.

Pressure-sensing touchscreen interface

Using what’s called the quantum tunneling composite (QTC), that relies on a 75-micrometer technology, Paratech has developed a cost effective pressure-sensing touchscreen interface which differentiates between gentle touch and a hard poke. Paratech’s sensors placed on the perimeter of the touchscreen display very efficiently detect where — and how hard — the screen is being pressed, and thereby responds accordingly to it. The pressure-sensors need no power in a static state, and are good to respond to only 2mm response from the user.

Source: Gizmowatch.com

Sticker Phone Sticks To Your Window To Harvest Clean Energy

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:04:31 +0000

Providing an answer to the growth in the number of cellphones and the energy they require to keep running, industrial designer Liu Hsiang-Ling has come up with a concept cellphone that runs on the abundant energy provided by the sun.

Dubbed the Sticker Phone, this concept mobile phone can be attached to the windshield of your car or the window of your living room, where it harnesses solar energy to juice up its on-board battery. Designed to be made from silicone, the phone is flexible, allowing you to stick it even on uneven surfaces.

Source: Ecofriend.org

Cobalto and Zafiro – Futuristic Gadgets That Are Inspired by Sci-Fi Movies

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:36:11 +0000

Cobalto and Zafiro are two futuristic concept devices that have been designed by getting inspired from Sci-Fi movies like “Minority Report”. Cobalto, the glass screen of this mobile phoneconcept has been envisioned to be able to produce 3D objects in the air which is really exciting. The device features deformable metal which will allow the user to function either on traditional number buttons or a dial like iPod.

Zafiro is conceptual desktop PC with really stylish and innovative appearance, it resembles a lot with the hand or body gestures of Tom Cruise in the movie. The Zafiroconcept also comprises the deformable metal of Cobalto which allows the keyboard to get flattened when idle.

Source: Tuvie.com

Mobile Script Futuristic Solar-powered cellphone with a roll-out touchscreen

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:06:05 +0000

Concept cellphone designed to be powered by solar energy.

Industrial designer Aleksander Mukomelov is trying to make use of the latest advancements in technology, including flexible displays in a hi-tech cellphone dubbed the Mobile Script. The cellphone is designed to offer mobility, constant internet access, access to documents, games and give the best in terms of means of communication and contact.

The cellphone carries two touchscreens – a rigid small touchscreen and a flexible large touchscreen that hides neatly behind the smaller screen in collapsed state. The larger screen consists of two layers – a soft OLED touchscreen and a soft nano material that hardens when a small voltage is applied.

The concept device doesn’t require a power charge, as its case is covered with a nano-material that converts sunlight into electricity to recharge the cellphone’s onboard battery. In addition to the solar charging capabilities, the phone can also be recharged via a special wireless recharge rug or using a conventional wall socket.

Source: Ecofriend.org