Georgia Tech researchers demonstrate blowable user interface

Although a team from Kent State already whipped up a method for turning one's PC on / off with a simple puff of air, two gurus at Georgia Tech have created a full-blown (ahem) breath-controlled user interface. The low-cost, localized blowable UI -- cleverly dubbed BLUI -- apparently utilizes a built-in microphone along with a C++ application that computes the blowing inputs. Once installed, users can puff on either side of the screen in order to scroll left / right, icons can be selected depending on the fierceness of the puff and games could integrate the technology in to add another level of interactivity. Notably, the duo behind the creation is already investigating how to avoid false positives (i.e. inputs from nature when outside on a blustery day), and while we're not sure how close this stuff is to becoming commercially available (if at all), you can take a look at a videoed demonstration just beyond the break. [Warning: PDF read link]

[a_roast_chicken @ Nov 15th 2007 6:03AM]

I laughed at 'full-blown'. Did you?

[johnathon @ Nov 15th 2007 6:30AM]

Now, if they could just put together a national-champion caliber football team...

[cédric nechal @ Nov 15th 2007 5:31PM]

wow i think it would be great implemented on a mac just to remplace the f9 or F11 buttons(show all windows/hide all windows)

what do you think?

[Ryan Trevisol @ Nov 15th 2007 6:43AM]

I'm guessing this is aimed at quadriplegics and other disabled people. Sounds rather janky though. Just what poor handicapped people need, a frustrating computer interface.

The startup screen should say "Blow me", though.

[Generic @ Nov 16th 2007 4:32AM]

lol
worse yet if there was a protruding tube

[Haytham @ Nov 15th 2007 6:52AM]

Imagine playing a game with this tech, it'll be something like this => tfoo tfoo =^tiff tiff.... so prepare the tissues, lot of saliva to wipe out..

[w @ Nov 15th 2007 7:16AM]

i guess this is not recommend for people working on high levels of stress, they might just blow away their work.


seems to be a useful technology to a lot of people, though.

[XenoX101 @ Nov 15th 2007 8:22AM]

Well I can't say I'm blown away, but it doesn't blow as much as I thought it might. I guess it would suck to have to blow to use a computer, but this does bring a breath of fresh air to operating systems. Lets just say Vista & Leopard aren't exactly mind-blowing in my books (particularly the former).

(How many was that?)

[Atanas Boev @ Nov 15th 2007 8:04AM]

It looks that the same guy was involved with the idea for blinging digital cameras with a laser beam (it appeared on Engadget earlier, I think).
The Capture Resistant Environment uses cameras and projectors to prevent unauthorized photography and video recording. The camera can detect the lens of a digital camera and the projected light can neutralize the camera, making any images or video recordings blurred and thus useless.

Truong, K.N., Patel, S.N., Summet, J.W., and Abowd, G.D. Preventing Camera Recording by Designing a Capture-Resistant Environment.Proceedings of Ubicomp 2005.

Well, repect :)

[mike @ Nov 15th 2007 8:22AM]

Does it work with farts ?

[Atanas Boev @ Nov 15th 2007 1:52PM]

I believe not. The algorythm relies on the frequency and phase patterns produced by the "wind" noise. As "fart" noise has different frequency characteristics, it is unlikely that the algorithm, optimized for "wind" will produce satisfactory resutls.

Furthermore, controlling the cursor with farts would require unnatural and unergonomic body position.

[Sirius @ Nov 15th 2007 8:24AM]

"and games could integrate the technology in to add another level of interactivity"

Mario Kart on the NDS comes to mind... although that's only in one-dimension... perhaps in the future blowing can help u drift better? Or by blowing hard enough you can cause your opponent's balloon string to snap! Do it wrong and it backfires on yourself? *keeps dreaming*

[fmaxwell @ Nov 15th 2007 8:29AM]

I'm a blowable user. Would this interface work for me?

[John @ Nov 15th 2007 8:35AM]

Well, just make sure you turn your head when you sneeze or cough! But seriously, those handicapped who use a wand with their mouths could use a straw in this application... guess you'd just have to be careful not to hyperventilate! ;>

[JT_X @ Nov 15th 2007 8:44AM]

As if fingerprints on the screen weren't bad enough, now I would have to wipe off the spit every day…

[Magallanes @ Nov 15th 2007 9:08AM]

User :fiuuuu fiuuuu think in a blowable sound fx ;-)

Computer :fine... fine... but please buy some mentos.

[Brian @ Nov 15th 2007 9:15AM]

With all the hot air blowing around in Washington no politician would be able to keep his/her laptop on.

[Hax Or @ Nov 15th 2007 9:41AM]

The DS games that 'feature' blowing are gimmicks and are quite annoying.

[mikkel @ Nov 15th 2007 9:47AM]

you mean ... ehm ... like this MacBook pro 'iBloPro' way of navigating?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=w_FAkO6cAqM

[JAmerican @ Nov 15th 2007 10:15AM]

Not to play devil's advocate but they could just simply make a program and memorize the events that take place. I find it hard to believe that the simple built-in mic can pick up such accurate readings.

JAmerican

[mike @ Nov 15th 2007 10:33AM]

yes

[Khris @ Nov 15th 2007 10:37AM]

We can't cure Cancer or AIDS, but we can dump money into controlling your computer using hot hair.

Priceless!!

[JM @ Nov 15th 2007 10:53AM]

I got your blowable user interface right here.

[omegoku @ Nov 15th 2007 10:58AM]

Wow those guys are slower than sony at stealing nintendos ideas..
Go back to 5 years ago when someone gave a crap!

[ben white @ Nov 15th 2007 12:43PM]

games that probably make you exhale in quick succession and over a long period of time... im lightheaded just thinking about it!

[D @ Nov 15th 2007 12:16PM]

Wow that is the lamest thing I have seen in awhile.

What a waste of time and tax dollars.

They can blow me.

[paul @ Nov 19th 2007 11:36AM]

So what happens when you're using your laptop on a windy day? Doesn't that sort of defeat the purpose of using a laptop instead of having a stack of papers around?

[Mike @ Nov 15th 2007 2:52PM]

Wow! I can't wait to play 'Hyper-ventilation Hero"!

[nbsorei2 @ Nov 16th 2007 2:33PM]

this solution is just breath taking.