First Look: Wink-activated iPod controller
March 5th, 2008 by Staff writersA researcher at Osaka University in Japan has developed a device that allows users to control their iPod music player via eye winks.
Called the KomeKami Switch, or Temple Switch, the gadget uses infrared sensors and a microcomputer to detect differences in the movement of your skin when you wink.
The KomeKami Switch can be clipped to eyeglasses or headphones and will respond to various combinations of winks by remotely controlling play, pause, replay, and skip functions of the iPod, says its developer, Kazuhiro Taniguchi, a researcher at the university's Graduate School of Engineering.
A few wink commands for the KomeKami Switch: close both eyes for a second to start the iPod and blink again to stop the machine; to replay a tune, wink strongly with the left eye for one second, or wink with the right eye to skip to the next song.
Francis Lee
March 7th, 2008 at 8:40am
This is one of the most useless inventions I have ever seen (next to the toilet paper roll on a hat and the mobile phone head band thing). These guys will never cease to amuse me eh.
Irie Dunne
June 19th, 2008 at 4:26am
wow, way to not think outside your little box--there are definitely *no* people who have difficulty with the dexerity/motor function required to use touch screens....right.... this is a GREAT and extraordinarily needed invention for certain groups of people.
Gerardo
March 15th, 2009 at 6:15am
I agree with "Irie" lol... I'm currently working on developing a system for handicapped people who wan't to communicate and have motor disabilites and I find this extremely useful.
Kim
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:58pm
This is awesome. Something like this would help my daughter so much. Its great to hear comments from Irie & Gerardo who appreciate the difficulty intelligent people have who unfortunately have motor function problems. Hey Gerardo, I would love to hear what you are working on !