The problem I've always had with audio interfaces is that input is not private. Requests on public transportation are heard by many. Requests at home turn into a conversation with the roommate, spouse, or children. Requests walking down the street make others question the mental wellbeing of the person talking to him/herself.
I'm reminded of the Ender's Game sequels in which the protagonist wears a small earpiece with an AI named Jane. He communicates with Jane by "subvocalizing" -- mentally saying the words, physically barely uttering a sound. The AI understands.
A few years ago there was a TED talk (forgive me; unable to find the link) on which a technology was demoed to do something similar. Sensors placed around the throat, combined with EEG sensors around the temple, allowed a man to transmit text to a computer by following all the mental and muscle processes of speaking, stopping short of moving his lips in an obvious fashion or making sounds. The sensors allowed the computer to translate their input to actual words.
Perfecting and miniaturizing that technology, then combining it with an in-ear AI, would be a game changer.
Yeah, you can always find a use case where something won't work then spend your time discussing why a solution won't work for you.
However, I imagine that a lot of people would love the solution in many scenarios. Personally, I have no problem asking my phone a question when I'm walking down the street or driving. Basically, it would be nice to have the imperfect solution now then take it from there.
Agreed regarding the issues with audio interfaces.
I'd personally love to experiment with a device with a Google Glass-type display, eye tracking to function as a virtual cursor, and a compact ring-like device to enable interactions with that cursor (such as tapping, dragging gestures, etc).
What I would like is less complex but still very hard: wireless earphones that somehow self-charge, from radio signals, the sun, body movement, or whatever would let you leave them on all day and never have to worry about charging them.
Couple that with a simple and easy way to switch between your phone and laptop. I mean these mainly for listening, to music, a video, a game, etc. But when a phone call comes in, you can switch to your phone and use them as a wireless headset.
Finally make them stylish. Not ornate and gawdy but just sleek and thin and with good metal, like jewelry, and everyone will just wear them all day long without self-consciousness.
We have to figure out how to make them self-charging though. That's the hard part.
How about equipping them with wireless charging? Its charging station could be a little bowl that you'd drop 'm in at night before you go to bed. Easy as pie.
Jarvis [1] seemed pretty neat in 2014 when Intel announced it, but I've heard nothing of it since. It seems like a much better bet than Google's Glass.
I could never stomach any podcasts (same thing with videos, of course). It is a slow and boring way of communication. You can read a text much faster, you can skim, you can easily go back to any point in this text.
Audio is so inferior that I cannot comprehend why all those podcasts even exist.
[+] [-] TomFrost|10 years ago|reply
I'm reminded of the Ender's Game sequels in which the protagonist wears a small earpiece with an AI named Jane. He communicates with Jane by "subvocalizing" -- mentally saying the words, physically barely uttering a sound. The AI understands.
A few years ago there was a TED talk (forgive me; unable to find the link) on which a technology was demoed to do something similar. Sensors placed around the throat, combined with EEG sensors around the temple, allowed a man to transmit text to a computer by following all the mental and muscle processes of speaking, stopping short of moving his lips in an obvious fashion or making sounds. The sensors allowed the computer to translate their input to actual words.
Perfecting and miniaturizing that technology, then combining it with an in-ear AI, would be a game changer.
[+] [-] melling|10 years ago|reply
However, I imagine that a lot of people would love the solution in many scenarios. Personally, I have no problem asking my phone a question when I'm walking down the street or driving. Basically, it would be nice to have the imperfect solution now then take it from there.
[+] [-] lewisl9029|10 years ago|reply
I'd personally love to experiment with a device with a Google Glass-type display, eye tracking to function as a virtual cursor, and a compact ring-like device to enable interactions with that cursor (such as tapping, dragging gestures, etc).
[+] [-] rmac|10 years ago|reply
http://www.kurzweilai.net/brain-to-text-system-converts-spee...
No need to utter words in public.
[+] [-] unknown|10 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] amasad|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ndesaulniers|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] notliketherest|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] combatentropy|10 years ago|reply
Couple that with a simple and easy way to switch between your phone and laptop. I mean these mainly for listening, to music, a video, a game, etc. But when a phone call comes in, you can switch to your phone and use them as a wireless headset.
Finally make them stylish. Not ornate and gawdy but just sleek and thin and with good metal, like jewelry, and everyone will just wear them all day long without self-consciousness.
We have to figure out how to make them self-charging though. That's the hard part.
[+] [-] schmappel|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sna1l|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Mindless2112|10 years ago|reply
[1] http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/6/5282416/intel-unveils-jarvi...
[+] [-] dmd|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sklogic|10 years ago|reply
Audio is so inferior that I cannot comprehend why all those podcasts even exist.
[+] [-] noir_lord|10 years ago|reply
The utility is that you listen to them while doing other things, also if the speed bothers you, speed it up.
I listen to most podcasts at 120-130%.
[+] [-] rpgmaker|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mgberlin|10 years ago|reply