NTT DoCoMo's eye-controlled music interface evolves at CEATEC (video)

NTT DoCoMo's R&D labs are amongst the busiest in the world, and here at CEATEC the company is showing off a development that it has had in the oven for quite some time. The difference now? Elegance. The eye-controlled music interface that we first spotted in mid-2008 is being showcased yet again here at the Makuhari Messe, but instead of having a short straw-drawing employee stand around with an absurd amount of headgear on, this year's demonstrator was equipped with little more than a special set of earbuds, a few cables and a swank polo. Put simply, the contraption watched subtle changes in eye movements and altered the music accordingly. A look to the right moved the track forward, while a glance to the left went back a track. The demo seemed buttery smooth, but there's still no telling when this stuff will go commercial. Still, progress is progress, and there's a video after the break showing as much.

NTT DoCoMo's eye-controlled music interface evolves at CEATEC

See more video at our hub!

[phxprovost Posted Oct 6th 2009 4:17AM]

.....why?

[Crp Posted Oct 8th 2009 3:53AM]

its the future! thats why
http://crookedhouse.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54ecc66978833011570b3b05e970b-800wi

[mex Posted Oct 6th 2009 5:29AM]

I think is not the future, is just useful you lost your arms

[realar Posted Oct 6th 2009 7:31AM]

Imagine you had broken your neck and you can't use your arms and legs.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 6th 2009 4:48AM]

so they'll be all like, "whys that guy glaring at me", and you'll be all like, "i love this song"

[inexus6 Posted Oct 6th 2009 4:52AM]

Poor guy! See how desparate he is to check out the girl without turning his head and he doesn't know he is on camera....

[EI8HT Posted Oct 6th 2009 5:05AM]

less mind control, more acne control

[kalleboo Posted Oct 6th 2009 5:18AM]

Can't they spend some more of their time making a phone UI you can actually use?

[Benedict Posted Oct 6th 2009 5:42AM]

Great! More excuses for surly teenagers to roll their eyes...

[pika2000 Posted Oct 6th 2009 5:53AM]

So we cannot smile when using this thing? LOL. Imagine everybody on the streets rolling their eyes.

... *rolleyes*

[Francis the Carpenter Posted Oct 6th 2009 7:25AM]

Exactly when am I going to have a camera pointed at me all the time? That only works when I am too fat too walk, like in Wall-e. (Thank you @Crp) Also, when is the user interface going to be my one and only point of attention and be the only connection to the rest of the world? That'll make me fat, like in Wall-e. (again, thank you @crp)

[num0 Posted Oct 6th 2009 9:32AM]

that's using electrodes on earbuds, not face-recognition from camera watching him.

......so the story's about this new humanoid robot moving eyes really precisely accurate on vid, right?

[Gungel Posted Oct 6th 2009 7:37AM]

They should have asked a Caucasian to do the test. I'm sure it would be more accurate than with Asian eyes.

[BoullionCube Posted Oct 6th 2009 9:06AM]

I think the dude's just looking at the woman.

[MrGlitch Posted Oct 6th 2009 12:00PM]

so if you sneeze, does it shuffle?

[Ironhide Delta Posted Oct 6th 2009 12:52PM]

What happens when you have to cross the road? You skip back then forwards then back again? That would suck if you were just getting to a song you really liked...

[Bandigolo Posted Oct 6th 2009 1:24PM]

That guy definitely wins the "i look like a serial killer" award.