Microsoft looks to be on a bit of a hot streak with innovations lately, and though this here project hasn't received much hype (yet), we'd say it's one of the most ingenious user interface concepts we've come across. Skinput is based on an armband straddling the wearer's biceps and detecting the small vibrations generated when the user taps the skin of his arm. Due to different bone densities, tissue mass and muscle size, unique acoustic signatures can be identified for particular parts of the arm or hand (including fingers), allowing people to literally control their gear by touching themselves. The added pico projector is there just for convenience, and we can totally see ourselves using this by simply memorizing the five input points (current maximum, 95.5 percent accuracy), particularly since the band works even if you're running. Make your way past the break to see Tetris played in a whole new way.
For some reason, Chris hasn't had as much attention as other individual researchers like Johny Lee, but I'm pretty sure he's at least as much of a genius.
I hope it lets you tap things out on a hard surface with one hand, or tap finger to thumb on one hand, that sort of thing. Control your gps by tapping your fingers on the steering wheel.
That's easily the coolest new interface I've seen for mobile. I can see a host of ways this can change mobile computing to make it more usable and immersive. I love real innovation!
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
posted March 2nd 2010 4:27AM
By the way, you might remember the lead researcher, Chris Harrison, as also being behind the pneumatic pop-up button display that got featured here ( http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/carnegie-mellon-morphs-pop-up-buttons-onto-multi-touch-display ). I think that's his voice in this video, but I'm not sure.
For some reason, Chris hasn't had as much attention as other individual researchers like Johny Lee, but I'm pretty sure he's at least as much of a genius.
My favorite work of his is still scratch input ( http://www.chrisharrison.net/projects/scratchinput/ ), which somehow never got featured here.
My pale arms will yield great contrast ratios.
"allowing people to literally control their gear by touching themselves.
This is empirical PROOF that Engadget readers are too mature now...what happened?!
Yes! OCtattos.
"allowing people to literally control their gear by touching themselves."
hehe
these "scoops" lead me to believe that engadget doesn't read its own blog....remember sixth sense a few months ago?
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/06/mits-sixth-sense-augmented-reality-demonstrated-on-video/
How is this innovative on microsofts part?
I hope it lets you tap things out on a hard surface with one hand, or tap finger to thumb on one hand, that sort of thing. Control your gps by tapping your fingers on the steering wheel.
Here's a conversation I don't want to have:
Why did my computer die?
Because you touch yourself at night.
That's easily the coolest new interface I've seen for mobile. I can see a host of ways this can change mobile computing to make it more usable and immersive. I love real innovation!