Mimi Switch remote control relies on facial expression, not phalanges
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted March 8th 2009 8:47PM
posted March 8th 2009 8:47PM
For some reason, whenever gadgetry and smiling cross paths, things tend to get a little creepy. Where the smile trainer was mostly a curiosity, the Orwellian implications of the Okao Catch technology were a bit much -- even for the hardened tech blogger. Sure, the Mimi Switch is quite clever: instead of relying on your fingers, this remote control uses an earbud containing infrared sensors that measure the inner ear movements resulting from various facial expressions. "An iPod can start or stop music when the wearer sticks his tongue out," says the inventor, Kazuhiro Taniguchi of Osaka University. Sounds innocent? Not so fast. The device can also be used to monitor your facial expressions for the appropriate levels of cheerfulness. "If it judges that you aren't smiling enough," the inventor goes on to say, "it may play a cheerful song." Or if you're smiling too much, the thing can be programmed to play some latter-day Depeche Mode. That always bums us out.
so when i chew gum, does my music keep skipping around to different songs?
not to mention yawning, talking, etc etc etc.
my comment got deleted :(
so every time i chew gum, yawn, etc, my tracks are skipping all over the place and i'm dialing kenya and hanging up on a phone call?
etc etc.
Her tongue is obviously the inspiration for the rolling stones logo.....
And the work of the devil.
wow it looks like Gene Simmons has met his match.
Yea, that's the thing that I couldn't take my eyes off of. What's up with her tongue?
these comments are totally useless and should be deleted.
my question is why the music needs to cheer me up when i'm not smiling. i'd like it to work the opposite. if i'm bummed i like to wallow in my sorrow and listen to mellow music and vice versa.
lol, so true. This better have customizable settings.
Good point actually. The last thing you want to hear is happy music when you are feeling down. Much better to get The Cure on....
I'll buy 10!
My comment was deleted.... it didn't have anything offensive. Why?
Come on, get the system fixed.
YOU are the problem. obtain patience. is this your first day?
noob
I wander that emotion prediction and face expression detection would be correct. What is probability?
Putting my tongue out to change tracks is probably the last thing i would want to do a monday morning on the subway.
okay, whatever she's selling, im buying it.
/so i didnt read the article, you wanna fight about it? lol
This plane doesn't even have a phalange!
hahaha well put, good sir. That made my morning.
Is that her real tongue or a Photoshop? The first photo looks cute, but the second one is going to give me nightmares...
Does she have a forked tongue??
: (
Yep that's a forked tongue.
Ah, so that's why that girl kept playing with her tongue while sitting next to me on the train. I thought I was going to get lucky :(
ah, schlong tongue is the medical term I believe ;)
A7
In the pic on the right, well, lets just say I expected a $1.99 2 day trial offer to accompany the article. I really looks similar to another organ. And if she sticks it out for longer than four hours, should she see a doctor?
:P
Why must this play sad songs when you're happy.... the pharm companys will do anything to sell more drugs! wonder if It also comes with a one month supply of prozac or abilify, your choice. This could be the best gift for your lazy bi-polar college roomate.
And..Just think of the job it'll do on your neighbors annoying Emo kid. It cuts him deeper if it senses his phony depression isn't getting him the attention he really wants.
hahahahaha, delete me, do it again nigggga!
Her tongue looks like a penis
They delete my comment but keep this one? are you kidding me guys?
Heh....what was your comment? My guess is since the article is old they stopped filtering it :P
hmmm interesting
laugh it up with your tongue jokes and the like. obviously none of you have any disabilites which makes it impossible to operate any of the newer technologies you all take for granted, like ipod.
thank your lucky stars and say a prayer of thanks.