Could iPods, Smartphones Take Shape as Bracelets or Glasses?
- Posted on December 19, 2011 at 2:28pm by
Liz Klimas
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With many of us constantly staring down at phones and other mobile devices, as the New York Time’s BITS blog notes, the need for wearable and hands free mobile technology is great.
Such an attachment to mobile devices has caused accidents like walking into fountains or open manholes. It has prompted bans in some cities from using a mobile device while crossing streets and an app was also developed to help people avoid these embarrassing moments.
But the Times reports technology for more convenient wearable computers is already taking shape in Google’s X Lab and Apple is coming up with ideas as well:
In Google’s secret Google X labs, researchers are working on peripherals that — when attached to your clothing or body — would communicate information back to an Android smartphone.
People familiar with the work in the lab say Google has hired electronic engineers from Nokia Labs, Apple and engineering universities who specialize in tiny wearable computers.
Apple has also experimented with prototype products that could relay information back to the iPhone. These conceptual products could also display information on other Apple devices, like an iPod, which Apple is already encouraging us to wear on our wrists by selling Nanos with watch faces.
The Times reports that Apple has a “very small group” brainstorming and creating prototypes, one of which includes a curved iPod device to be worn around the wrist. Wearable devices by Apple could be controlled by Siri, its voice-activated command technology.
Michael Liebhold, a specialist in wearable computing for the Institute for the Future, is reported by the Times as predicting that in coming years virtual technology will make its way more into mainstream use:
Over the next 10 years, he says, he envisions that people will be wearing glasses with built-in screens and, eventually, contact lenses — with working displays.
In November, research involving “Terminator-like” bionic contacts, which not only correct vision but could superimpose elements of augmented reality in front of the viewer, were put into the eyes of rabbits, according to New Scientist. The research on anesthetized rabbits showed it didn’t cause them harm and is currently moving forward in terms of improving wireless signal as well as other components.
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Poggle The Stick
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 6:50pmI can‘t see this being a commonly popular product until I’m finished with college. In fact, I’m wondering if it will just be forgotten, such as products like the Aptera. We all know what happened to them.
It’s going to be a long time, perhaps my generation, to get used to being away from GUIs. I still love them myself and I’m only a teenager!
Report Post »betennant
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:10pmWhy doesn’t someone popular stand up and shout out: “Hey, you don’t want discriminated against!!! ” God gives us a choice of Eternal bliss in Heaven or a horrible eternal suffering and unquenchable thirst in hell where flesh will be torn and knashing of teeth will be everyday.” We Christians choose Heaven, you can choose hell if you want but you can’t get into heaven when it is too late. Stay on your own side of the fence and leave us alone!
Report Post »SquishyBear
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:59pmum… ok…. but what does that have to do with this article?
Report Post »BelievinginAmerica
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 11:17amI‘m glad I don’t own I or Apple anything….sounds a little scary to me. Big Brother is watching enough!
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 11:25amJust like Tom Clancy makes his books so real by learning from insiders at the Pentagon, technology has gotten its direction from its own geeks who pulled from, as one commenter mentioned, Dick Tracy and Star Trek.
Report Post »Its done that way because inventing the old fashioned way is far too difficult.
Poggle The Stick
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 8:26pmI own an iPod Touch, and I’m not scared of Big Brother knowing that I look at the Blaze/other sites every day, or that I listen to music. I don’t actually do anything to be scared of.
Besides, the real Hal 9000 is the Kinect Camera for XBox 360. I don’t have it, however in Microsoft stores they have like 3 of them (activated), probably recording “What their customers are buying.”
Report Post »Agent117B
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 10:58amHey, I’ve got a swell idea! Lets invent and insert devices in our right hands and foreheads to communicate and pay bills with.
Report Post »Poggle The Stick
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 8:35pmHey, I’ll add to that.
Lets all invent a headpiece (mandatory to ALL citizens) that contains a holographic display, naming your Credit Score, your debt, if you’ve payed your taxes, and how many friends you have!
Report Post »piper60
Posted on December 19, 2011 at 10:57pmIt’s getting to the point where Star Trek and Dick Tracy are no longer fiction.
Report Post »Sorocialism
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 10:01amStar Trek (whle very nerdy) has influenced many techy break throughs… Sci-fi is becoming Wi-Fi
Report Post »Calgary
Posted on December 19, 2011 at 9:43pmThis would be a shame….more and more people potential becoming EHS, electromagnetic hypersensitive to RF frequencies. There is a reason homeowners in California are fighting smart meters (the same technology) getting thrown in jail, Counties around the U.S. banning smart meters, Canadians in BC and Ontario fighting utilities companys and school boards. European countries, Russia, China and Australia enforcing much lower radiation levels from wireless providers, pulling RF out of schools, librarys and universities, countries like Germany banning cellphones to kids under 16,and so on. If a BB or iPhone is supposed to, by their own standards, be an inch from your ear for safe levels of radiation to the head (1000 uW/cm2 for 6 minutes), then a RF device strapped to you body is wrong. As for testing rabbits on harm, research has shown testing animals, mice and rats require 4-5 generations of tests. It may affect none of the first generation, but by the 5th, you can have 50% of the test specimens suffering. And for those who just think it’s ludicrous for anyone to suffer from EHS, explain how millions around the world, from various walks of life all got together to conspire a fake disease that would bring ridicule from family and friends, bring them no monies in any book or movie deals, and fail to be protected by the very Human Rights acts of the U.S. and Canada. Careful folks, what you by into. A technology that was never tested safe from day one.
Report Post »MR_ANDERSON
Posted on December 19, 2011 at 9:40pmWhat about one shaped like an upside down letter “V” that you can just press when you want to talk to someone. Then you could just pin it on your shirt.
Report Post »Pro-Palin
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:41amThen we wouldnt have to use the payphones anymore or cell phones to ask Morpheous to get us the hell out of here….. we need some red shirts to test this theory ….
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