Mar 5 2010Magic!: Turning Your Arm Into A Touchscreen
This is a video showing how, by mapping the sound your arm makes when you tap it with a finger, you can turn your whole arm into a touchscreen. A long, hairy touchscreen.
We present Skinput, a technology that appropriates the human body for acoustic transmission, allowing the skin to be used as a finger input surface. In particular, we resolve the location of finger taps on the arm and hand by analyzing mechanical vibrations that propagate through the body. We collect these signals using a novel array of sensors worn as an armband. This approach provides an always-available, naturally-portable, and on-body interactive surface. To illustrate the potential of our approach, we developed several proof-of-concept applications on top of our sensing and classification system.
It's actually pretty neat, especially the phone on the palm your hand part. Now all you need is a speaker and mic implanted and you're good to go-go-gadget call Domino's. Speaking of which -- how is their new recipe? Because one person told me it was good but somebody else said it was like licking a cat's asshole. Which, BTDT, got the shirt, know what I'm sayin'?
Skinput: because touchscreens never felt right anyway [engadget]
Thanks to Blaqk Panda and eileen, who got pissed and tore their own arms off because the navigational menu was too confusing.
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Reader Comments
1. Closet Nerd - March 5, 2010 12:12 PM
I've been saying for years that eventually people are going to get speakers and microphones installed in their fingers, so that they can make phone calls like Inspector Gadget..... just sayin
2. cabbo - March 5, 2010 12:18 PM
Hmm, I like the acoustic technology, but the projection could do with a little work. Of course, I'm not going to be the one to do it.
@1 Good idea, except wet willies could now turn into something much more sinister.
3. Closet Nerd - March 5, 2010 12:21 PM
I got the damn Inspector Gadget theme song stuck in my head!!!!!!!
....doot doot doot doot doot Inspector Gadget...... GO Gadget GO!!!
4. Blastphemer - March 5, 2010 12:22 PM
Tried to do this with my penis a while back. While it cut down on the number of people who asked to use my phone (the opposite of what I had intended), it kept dialing random people while I was having sex. Not necessarily a downside till it called my gf's father. Talk about awkward holiday get togethers.
5. Aakash - March 5, 2010 12:38 PM
Wow thats pretty cool, cept no more high fives...you may accidentally dial up your mum
6. Zinrai - March 5, 2010 12:45 PM
Domino's new recipe is pretty good. Me and some friends got a 14" Deep dish with marinara sauce instead of the normal stuff, extra cheese, extra hearty marinara sauce, italian sausage, green peppers, onions, philly steack, and diced tomatoes. It came out around $25.60 and was probably one of the best pizzas I've had in a while. Although, could've been because we were high as hell. :P
7. Bernstein - March 5, 2010 12:53 PM
I ate Domino's new pizza sober, unfortunately, and it tasted exactly the same as their old pizza, except that the crust now has a garlicy taste, which I guess was okay.
8. Pat - March 5, 2010 12:54 PM
This seems very similar to "sixth-sense computing." Interesting stuff!
http://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology.html
9. Goss Jerk (insert ... ... ... ... here) - March 5, 2010 1:03 PM
i'm back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (not that anyone cares, LOL)
10. Uncle Eccoli - March 5, 2010 1:20 PM
I developed this five years ago but couldn't find backing for it. None of the investors I approached seemed to believe that people would be willing to schlep a dark closet around with them. Whatever. This guy can have it.
11. DH - March 5, 2010 1:52 PM
i actually read all these comments JUST to get an opinion on the new Domino's recipe. Thanks guys :D
Now beam me some pizza in ma mouf.
12. bcode - March 5, 2010 2:03 PM
Excellent first step for a budding technology... this has great potential once it becomes smaller and more reactive.
13. ubflamed - March 5, 2010 2:34 PM
Hm... what could we use for a joystick...
14. Marissa - March 5, 2010 5:01 PM
Umm... Isn't this a very similar demo to the TED conference?
15. Myshel - March 5, 2010 5:35 PM
D: creepy awsum!
16. M_D - March 5, 2010 5:57 PM
junk. why would i want to look retarded by changing a song on my ipod or whatever with my fingers or hand when i could simply look at the damn ipod. this crap wont even work in normal lighting and and why would i want that. you dont want to carry around any extra surfaces but you'll carry this huge arm band crap? pointless
17. Wang Dickfor - March 5, 2010 7:55 PM
I have always loved playing the skinflute.
18. dstt - March 6, 2010 8:33 AM
Wow this is really an amazing and first I could not believe about it.I like this innovative idea and this is a good technology of Skinput.This video is really good.
19. boat - March 6, 2010 12:05 PM
Are people really bashing this technology as something that is useless? Obviously it's a proof of concept, very much in the need of further development.
What you have said decades ago if someone showed you the foundations of the computer that you're sitting on now? "Oh man, how am I going to carry around this thing? IT'S THE SIZE OF AN ENTIRE ROOM! And the only input and output is based on punchcards with holes in them? How the hell am I supposed to watch Youtube on this? SUCKS"
20. emptyaddy - March 6, 2010 1:13 PM
This is extremely cool. While an individual's BMI will be an interesting factor in regards to a commercial standard, the program and application is not only feasible but long overdue.
21. The Luddite Cynic - March 6, 2010 7:00 PM
boat's got money in this thing.
22. neoLuddite - March 7, 2010 12:50 AM
Holy Crap! Who said counting on your fingers wasn't coming back in style.
Everyone laughed at me when I chose to sleep through my math classes, all the while putting my faith in my body parts. Can't wait for the first channel changer app to show up so'z I never gots to leave the couch.
23. Paty V - March 8, 2010 10:07 AM
Do I have to wear this thing on my arm? Or can I put this in other places???