Wink as good as a prod for next-gen iPods?

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 9 Mar 2009 at 08:49

Music fans could skip to the next track on their MP3 player with nothing more than the wink of an eye, according to Japanese researchers.

The academics have developed a set of headphones that can identify facial expressions, using infrared sensors to measure the smallest of in-ear movements.

The breakthrough will allow gadget makers to map functions to specific facial movements, such as a wink, smile or raised eyebrow.

"You will be able to turn on room lights or swing your washing machine into action with a quick twitch of your mouth," Kazuhiro Taniguchi, chief researcher at Osaka University's Graduate School of Engineering Science told the AFP news agency.

"An iPod can start or stop music when the wearer sticks his tongue out, like in the famous Einstein picture. If he opens his eyes wide, the machine skips to the next tune. A wink with the right eye makes it go back."

The technology might even switch your music according to your mood. "It monitors natural movements of the face in everyday life and accumulates data," Taniguchi said. "If it judges that you aren't smiling enough, it may play a cheerful song."

If that's enough to make you want to jump on the first plane to Japan and beat the cretin who decided your iPod will play Walking on Sunshine every time you're in a foul mood, bear in mind the technology might have genuinely useful applications, too.

"If the system is mounted on a hearing aid for elderly people, it could tell how often they sneeze or whether they are eating regularly," Taniguchi said. "If it believes they are not well, it could send a warning message to relatives."

The team is hoping to patent the technology in Japan, before bringing it to market over the next two or three years.