The lickable, edible lollipop interface

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 4th 2006 at 2:37AM

Among the exhibits at Yahoo's Design Expo yesterday was this tasty little project from designer Erin Elliott, dubbed the Edible Interface. Using a lollipop with a photo cell cooked in candy, the interface lets participants race robot babies (really, look) simply by licking the lollipop as fast as they can. The photo cell is used to detect changes in light and dark as the licker licks the lollipop, which the computer interprets as licking activity and results in sending the robot baby speeding ahead. A bit more performance art than a practical amusement, obviously, but Elliott sees some room for real-world applications, saying that "we often use our bodies to control our technology but the mouth is very sensitive. It has well-developed muscles, and this is something that is being and will continue to be developed." Not anything we didn't know about the tongue and mouth, but something has to fill in the gap until everyone has mind control.

[Via Mercury News]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Robots

Tags: edible interface, EdibleInterface, lollipop, yahoo design expo, YahooDesignExpo

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

David @ Aug 4th 2006 2:43AM

This has all kinds of potential :)

Neutral

James C. @ Aug 4th 2006 3:45AM

I, for one, welcome our lollipop powered robotoic overlords.

Neutral

James C. @ Aug 4th 2006 3:46AM

I'm surprised Engadget hasn't just banned that phrase already :)

Neutral

Ethan @ Aug 4th 2006 3:50AM

You know, I think this is one of those articles I'm just going to avoid reading.

Neutral

furtim @ Aug 4th 2006 4:15AM

Notice that both the testers in that picture are female. I think the real purpose of this is obvious.

Only question is when will he release the popsicle version?

Neutral

Claudiu Spulber @ Aug 4th 2006 5:11AM

OMG. Females liking lollipops ... and babies. Something is not really right in this picture.
I'd love to watch such a contest anyway, and I also say that there might be a champion at this game, think it's Monica Lew ... it's on my lips but I can't remember the name.

Neutral

fastthought @ Aug 4th 2006 8:13AM

I, for one, would like to become good friends with the winner...

Neutral

Dana @ Aug 4th 2006 8:59AM

This technology would work well in cybersex applications.

Neutral

tiuk @ Aug 4th 2006 11:47AM

Dana, you rock. Anyone who just comes out and says what everyone else has been thinking/hinting at subtley is a-okay in my book.

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