The lickable, edible lollipop interface
By Donald Melanson 
posted August 4th 2006 2:37AM
posted August 4th 2006 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]
This has all kinds of potential :)
I, for one, welcome our lollipop powered robotoic overlords.
I'm surprised Engadget hasn't just banned that phrase already :)
You know, I think this is one of those articles I'm just going to avoid reading.
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?
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.
I, for one, would like to become good friends with the winner...
This technology would work well in cybersex applications.
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.