The lickable, edible lollipop interface

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]

[David @ Aug 4th 2006 2:43AM]

This has all kinds of potential :)

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

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

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

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

[Ethan @ Aug 4th 2006 3:50AM]

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

[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?

[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.

[fastthought @ Aug 4th 2006 8:13AM]

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

[Dana @ Aug 4th 2006 8:59AM]

This technology would work well in cybersex applications.

[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.