Boffin unveils facial expression-controlled iPod A cute girl winking at you on the bus may soon, unfortunately, no longer be a sign that she’s hot for you. Why? Because she might just be controlling her iPod. That’s because Kazuhiro Taniguchi, from the Osaka University in Tokyo, has designed a gadget able to control an MP3 player using pre-defined facial expressions. …
Combined with an eyetracker- and some more subtle head motions- it could finally give a computer game style interface for wearables!
Want to turn on your wearable's WiFi? Look at the WiFi logo on the screen and waggle your ears a couple of times! Much easier and more hands-free than either press-button on your arm or bring up a two-hand virtual display.
Also, don't like certain people? Upload a different config file to their MP3 players. Have them stick their tongues out to turn off their music. "HEY, TURN OFF THAT DAMN RACKET!"*sticks tongue out* *wakes up in intensive care*
How will this work for people with nervous twitches or muscle defects? They'll be shit pissed off about their iPod not working properly.
I know mobile phones saved people who used to talk to themselves whilst driving, from lots of embarrasment and now it looks like this might do the same for those with jittery nerves. It would be kinda unnerving on public transport watching everybody 'gurning' - reminds me of the days of GOOD ecstacy and illegal raves - i guess I'm now old enough to moan about progress officially, so here it is - THIS IDEA IS RUBBISH - NOW FCUK OFF and DO SOMETHING USEFUL :) - XRay specs are still up for grabs!!!
So not only have mobile manufacturers blighted the sedate trip home on the train by encouraging some trumped up little shite-hawk to bleat about his or her meaningless existence, now we will have to tolerate the sight of several people who look like they have St Vitus Dance, trying to operate the MP3 player on their mobiles!
Thank you very much indeed! I love progress!
I did my thesis on controlling devices using non-standard HCI.
One thing that sticks in my mind is that people blink, wink and perform other facial gestures hundreds of times each day and are not even aware of it.
Unaware that is until they plug in their iPod and they're sent skipping around their music collection at random intervals.
Twatballoons.
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