If you've never pulled your weight during the wee hours of the morning (like, right now), you simply can't understand what a godsend these things really are. The so-called Wink Glasses are little more than a
USB peripheral that clips onto one's spectacles when using the computer; if the wearer doesn't blink every five seconds, the device begins to fog up your shades until you snap back into it. In theory, anyway, this acts to keep you awake and alert while computing for hours on end, but everything goes to waste if you simply detach it or remove your
eyeglasses entirely. At any rate, it'll ship in Japan (where else, right?) early next month for an undisclosed sum, and we're already betting it'll have great success in the gag gift market if nothing else.
[Thanks, Chris]
posted Jul 29th 2009 8:41AM
I can only imagine how annoying that would be if I were to be reading an article on Engadget. I don't blink till I've read all the posts AND all the comments.
I like the sex
i can only imagine that anyone could care less if it fogs off while you fell asleep already, couldn't they of made it shock your ears off instead
or lunch Resident evil 5 or fallout or something
I bet i could keep her awake and make her eyes fog up.
negligence just got a whole lot easier!
If anything, fogging them up would probably make me fall asleep faster.
Then no one can see that your eyes are closed.
Win/win, if you ask me. :)
it's only one eye that dims...trust me it would not make you want to sleep.
+1 !!!
@thedankone
"it's only one eye that dims..."
Then these would not be "Pirate-friendly" :)
Exactly!
This would just cause me to go to sleep quicker.
Useful if you're feeling sleepy while driving...
Haha yeah it would be a laugh.
Bring them to the states, I'm in for 1
I don't get it... If you've fallen asleep, you're not going to notice the shades fogging over....
its the blinking every 5 seconds that will prevent you from sleeping, this however wont wake you up if you've already fallen asleep.
though they can upgrade it so that if you dont blink for 1 minute it will assume you are already asleep and will release a short burst of electricity to your face, that will feel like your boss is slapping you to wake up.
@BratPAQ
Yeah, I guess feeling the absolute need to blink if you're falling asleep and you can't see anything is pretty common.
So, they fog up to help you go to sleep and then when an axe murder breaks in you can't see!
Although, he might let you live after you scream like a little girl and run into a door. ...or maybe his fit of uncontrollable laughter might buy you enough time to get away.
Darren...cease and desist. You are making the worst round of Engadget articles in history. If I wanted the round up of crap I would go to best buy. You can just go around posting shit you found on other websites.
Hey now I like this technology, it's interesting and very nicely gives an insight in japanese thinking, plus she's OK on the eyes.
Oh and it has a fair looking design too.
Accessories include earphones that play lullabies and an interface that turns your heating system on, for maximum efficiency.
Actually you just need to wake up every 5 seconds. New definition of the "cat nap".
Doctor Who, anyone? ;)
Wearing those glasses may be dangerous.
I agree. The fog would just me incentive to fall asleep faster. It would be like having heavy eyes/eyelids.
Also, how can these double as eyeglasses? Are they prescription? Or just a fashion statement (ya, about that...)
It says right in the summary that it clips on to your glasses. But this begs the question, how are people without glasses supposed to use this?
Uh, forget the fog. Give it flashing lights.
The model in the picture has my glasses foggy. heeeee
looks heavy, :wink wink:
Five seconds? That seems pretty short to me. If your eyeballs are moving in their sockets (i.e., while you're reading something), you don't really need to blink as often. I re-read this article, and keeping a finger on the stopwatch on my phone, and the first time I blinked was after 18 seconds.
Wouldn't the fog make it easier to doze off?
You should get a pair and replace the blink thing with manual control, or inverse the function, then when you see someone ugly and blink a few times they will be removed from your sight, pretty neat, now to make the same thing for your ears though.
They should make it flash a light.
How would that even help you "stay awake"? If you fall asleep your eyes close. If your eyes are closed, the glasses fog up. Your eyes are closed. You DON'T SEE THE FOGGING UP!
I think the point is that when you're not paying attention, just staring off into the distance, you don't tend to blink. That's what these are for, not for when you're beginning to doze off. Obviously if you're falling asleep your eyes will be shut and you wont see the fog. But if you're having trouble concetrating, a shift in the clarity of your visual field will cause your brain to "reactivate". Or at least, that's the theory.
I timed myself on my iPhone/Pre/All other phones have shit UI's
Um.. yeah... but what if your eyes are so close together under normal circumstances that nobody could tell that your eyes are even OPEN !?? .... could happen !!
Great concept, bad interpretation!!!
It's used to keep your eyes moist. When staring at the monitor, people tend to not blink for long periods and so the eyes dry out. That's not good. When your vision gets foggy, you blink. That's it!
there you go: http://www.geek.com/articles/games/wink-glasses-force-gamers-to-compulsively-blink-20090730/