DoCoMos Finger Phone

A reader writes: "DoCoMo has done it again. This time they have a phone where the speaker is your finger. Put your finger in your ear and listen as you speak into the mic which is integrated into the wristwatch. Also in the wrist watch is some sort of gadget which sends the sound waves up your wrist and into one of your fingers." Thanks to Cubase de Pilsen for sending me a link to one of the pictures.

Re:I can't resist

Yeah, but imagine the look on their face when you hold out your hand to them and say, "No! Here... listen!"

Then who's crazy? =)

vibrations & your bones

The vibrations will range from 100Hz and higher for voices I would think.

I don't know, but how much vibrations can your bones stand before it starts to become a (medical) problem?

Is this another fast way to get RSI?

PRESS RELEASE

PALO ALTO, CA (Routers) - Professors at the User Interface Group at Xerox PARC is introducing a new wireless input interface that replaces the mouse and keyboard altogether. The apparatus involves a pair of tap dancing shoes, and wearing a 10-pound "wearable PC" white underwear briefs, which wirelessly connects to the computer and shoes.

The user can create keyboard events by tap dancing predefined sequences on the floor with the shoe. Mouse clicks and movement is created by sticking the two index fingers up each nostril, and pointing the palm of the right hand at the screen allows for the positioning of the mouse pointer, and wiggling each index finger in the nose simulates mouse clicks.

"This new interface is intuitively easy to use for users that have never used a computer before," said Roozbeh Ghaffari, PHD Atomic Microscope scientist at Xerox PARC. "We are currently exploring ways to simulate the third mouse button, possibly by creating a hoola-hoop motion with the user's behind."

Am I the only one who thinks this is cool?

I have read through all of the comments (just about) and I have yet to find one person who isn't more concerned with how they would look using one of these than the actual practicality of it. I find it hard to believe that a bunch of geeks, who will wear shirts that have lines of perl code, and wear tool belts with leathermen and palmpilots on them actually care about what other people think. Personally, I feel stupid using my cell phone period. I don't use it because I think it looks cool, I use it because its incredibly convinent. A wrist/finger type phone would allow one to be much more discreet, not to mention it would be much nicer to carry around.

Just imagine, you are in class, you feel a vibration on your rist, check the little lcd to see who the incoming call is from, decide you will take it real quick. You tap your fingers together and hold your hand to your ear and tell your girlfriend you will be home in 30 minutes. I will be the first one inline to buy one of these (assuming they aren't too bulky on the rist).

Maybe someone will point and laugh at me because I have a finger in my ear, but I will still have my other hand free to give them the finger with.
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Remove the -x- from my email address to send.

By an interesting coincidence ...

Another /. topic today is "Force-Feedback Devices Provide Virtual Texture". put these stories together for a new concept of phone sex.

Sounds cool, but...

... people tend to think it's rather rude to use a mobile in a lot of public places, or to stick your fingers in your ears, while talking to yourself (which is what you'll appear to be doing until people work out about these things) tends to get you dismissed as mad. As far as I can see, this combines each and every one of those problems with remarkable efficiency.

I'd guess public acceptance will be a huge problem, I'm afraid. This may simply be a leap too far.

These guys are INGENIUS!

The band houses a tiny microphone, plus a device that converts audio signals into vibrations.

I certainly hope they get a patent on the as-yet-unnamed 'device that converts audio signals into vibrations' before someone tries to copy it. I mean, jeez, they're definately onto something here! This whole time, I thought that audio signals WERE vibrations!

(I love it when journalists pad stories to make them more.. uh.. interesting. Good thing there's no -1 sarcastic (-: )

Cell Phones In Ear... Farenheit 451 anyone?

That's right, you know that Farenheit 451 is about book burning... but did you know that it's about pervasisve media too?

"Sooner or later, wireless phones will look more like earplugs, and people will wear them," Fukumoto says. "We just have to establish a culture that registers an idea with people that wearing a device is a cool thing."

. Remind anyone of "the SeaShell" that Mildred (Montag the fireman's wife) wears in the book? It was acceptable in their culture. How about a FREE ear-cellphone, folks -- all you have to do is accept continuous programming?

Next thing you know, we'll have huge flat screen TVs you can work into your walls....

Honey! It's for you!

Why doesn't anyone ever answer the finger in this house!?!?

Cell Phones

Now when a pretenious over eager wallstreet type interupts your movie, or dinner you have a few choices

• Point out how dumb he looks
• Suggest he stick something else in his ear
• Grab your shoe and do a "Maxwell Smart" impression (Don't worry Chief I have the villian in my site!)

Re:Stick it in your ear!

Instruction manual:

Step 1. Stick finger in ear.
Step 2. Twist arm around so microphone is aimed at mouth.
Step 3. Dial by wiggling thumb.

I just tried it, it looks like I am shooting myself in the head with a "hand" gun.

be careful...

Fukumoto says users can send multiple commands to the wristband by tapping their fingers in various rhythms.

I can just see myself wearing one of these, listening to music, tapping my fingers to the rhythm, & accidentally calling Australia...

human://billy.j.mabray/