One the problems with cellphones is that they force personal conversations out into the world. Arguing with your spouse? Speaking your PIN and Social Security number to a customer service rep? Having an intimate chat on a cross-country bus trip? Cellphones make all those private details available to anyone who's listening. But with the soundless communication designed by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), you can hold a phone conversation in complete silence.
The KIT system works via electromyographic sensors that attach to the face. The sensors measure the movement of facial muscles related to speech, and converts the movements into sound on the other end of the line. Potentially, by recalibrating the sensors to correct for injuries or defects, this technology could allow the speech-impaired to speak again.
With this device, the next time you're talking to your bank on the bus, or conversing with your mistress while at home, what you want private remains private. Of course, you will have to wear electrodes on your face, and that might tip some people off that you're trying to hide something.
[Dvice]
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Science is reinventing play, from extreme sports to gamification to ridiculous roller coasters to the playgrounds of tomorrow, and this issue is chock full of fun. Also, on a less fun note: Did global warming destroy my hometown?
Good idea if it weren't for the electrodes. I wonder how good the quality of the spoken audio on the other end is? What's with the photo?
I guess, if you just have to conduct your business anytime and anyplace. Possibly you could just bide your time.
I've worked in places with one phone for 4 or 5 of us, and of course, when I lived in cubeville, there was no real privacy. Pretty much I picked my time -- sometimes I went out to a payphone.
With a cellphone, you can generally find a quiet area.
Wonder how your significant other will enjoy sweet nothings
presented by a synthesizes voice ( lets say with a heavy Darth Vader effect)
But... Apple will appear with a HIDDEN PATENT and will kill this technology, ta-daaaaa~
I believe that this invention is extremely useful in many peoples daily lives. Someone may be out with a few friends and gets a call that is extremely important and needs to be handled at that time. Using this device would make that possible to be done. The invention is very unique and I have never heard about anyone even in the early stages of creating one. The invention is one of a kind.
Stuart,
Does your ego know no bounds? Posting pictures of yourself with your stories is the height of narcissism.
This has great application for deaf people all around the world.