Wearable computer for your ears similar to AI in ‘Her’

Computers and I have a complex relationship of mutually suspicious tolerance with occasional (perpetual) bouts of vicious hatred, so the concept of a man full on in love with his computer, Her style, is sort of incomprehensible to me. But that doesn’t mean I am not impressed by the wearable computer Hiroshima City University’s Kazuhiro Taniguchi has just created, whose apparatus is reminding quite a few people of the AI’s earpiece in Joaquin Phoenix’s recent film:

Taniguchi’s prototype computer, called the Ear Switch, utilizes infrared technology to detect when its wearer opens or closes their mouth, which will then send a command signal back up to the earpiece. This technology could be used to access traffic information or directions based on mouth movement, depending on what apps are created for the device.

The Ear Switch is also equipped with a compass, barometer, gyro-sensors, a speaker, GPS, and a microphone, all of which allow its wearer to operate the device hands-free. Furthermore, unlike Google Glass—to which Taniguchi’s device has also been compared—users can wear the Ear Switch tucked unobtrusively behind their ears, a more discreet version of the bulky Google Glasses. 

According to Mashable, Taniguchi has teamed up with a major firm for development of a commercial Ear Switch, which we should hear about sometime next year. Until then, we’ll just have to see what Google Glass is coming up with.

Source Mashable