Don’t read too much into someone winking at you in Japan – a researcher says he has developed a system that will let people run their iPods with the flick of an eye.
The system, comprising a single-chip computer and a couple of infrared sensors, monitors movements of the temple and is so tiny that it can be built into the side of a pair of eyeglasses.
Closing both eyes for one second starts an iPod, while blinking again stops the digital machine. A wink with the right eye makes the machine skip to the next tune while with a wink of the left eye, it goes back.
The system can serve as “a third hard” for rock-climbers, motorbike drivers and astronauts, as well as people with disabilities.
The system – dubbed – “Kome Kami Switch,” or “Temple Switch” – can easily differentiate a deliberate one-second wink from natural blinking, said the device’s developer Kazuhiro Taniguchi.
“Normally you blink in an energy-saving manner, very quickly and lightly, but you would close your eyes more firmly to operate a device,” the developer said.
The Kome Kami Switch is also capable of operating television sets, air conditioners, room lighting and other household electronics.
Courtesy: AFP and The Hindu, Madurai, March 4, 2008
The system, comprising a single-chip computer and a couple of infrared sensors, monitors movements of the temple and is so tiny that it can be built into the side of a pair of eyeglasses.
Closing both eyes for one second starts an iPod, while blinking again stops the digital machine. A wink with the right eye makes the machine skip to the next tune while with a wink of the left eye, it goes back.
The system can serve as “a third hard” for rock-climbers, motorbike drivers and astronauts, as well as people with disabilities.
The system – dubbed – “Kome Kami Switch,” or “Temple Switch” – can easily differentiate a deliberate one-second wink from natural blinking, said the device’s developer Kazuhiro Taniguchi.
“Normally you blink in an energy-saving manner, very quickly and lightly, but you would close your eyes more firmly to operate a device,” the developer said.
The Kome Kami Switch is also capable of operating television sets, air conditioners, room lighting and other household electronics.
Courtesy: AFP and The Hindu, Madurai, March 4, 2008
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