iPod users may soon be able to adjust the volume of a song or flip between tracks via a motion of their head according to Macworld UK.
Per the article, Japanese researchers have developed a pair of headphones that use infrared sensors to interpret facial movements as a way of controlling a digital audio player.
“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,” Kazuhiro Taniguchi from Osaka University’s Graduate School of Engineering Science told news agency AFP.
The headphones might be able to monitor the user’s mood and play a track to correspond with how the user is feeling at any given moment.
“It monitors natural movements of the face in everyday life and accumulates data. If it judges that you aren’t smiling enough, it may play a cheerful song.”
It is thought the headphones will be patented in Japan before being made available to the public in the next few years.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available and let us know what you think in the comments or forums.
iPod users may soon be able to adjust the volume of a song or flip between tracks via a motion of their head according to Macworld UK.
Per the article, Japanese researchers have developed a pair of headphones that use infrared sensors to interpret facial movements as a way of controlling a digital audio player.
“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,” Kazuhiro Taniguchi from Osaka University’s Graduate School of Engineering Science told news agency AFP.
The headphones might be able to monitor the user’s mood and play a track to correspond with how the user is feeling at any given moment.
“It monitors natural movements of the face in everyday life and accumulates data. If it judges that you aren’t smiling enough, it may play a cheerful song.”
It is thought the headphones will be patented in Japan before being made available to the public in the next few years.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available and let us know what you think in the comments or forums.