Futurologists predict that very soon it will be possible to translate video directly on the contact lenses or control computers with the power of a thought. I’m not really sure how true it is, but we have to admit that modern technologies allow such things that we couldn’t have imagined a decade ago: 3D printing, wireless connection, Kinect, etc. In this article I’d like to tell you about some of the devices that potentially can change our life significantly.
The world through super glasses
Idea: to transfer all smartphone functions on a small screen that is placed right in front of person’s eyes. A user constantly stays online, has access to the Internet, but at the same time his or her hands are free.
People began to talk seriously about the glasses with “supplemented reality” after Google announced their Project Glass technology. But Google is not the only company that dreams about such devices. Japanese company Brother has their own project called AiRScouter. In their device one of the glasses has a built-in screen which transfers the information from a computer to a human’s retina. Also, these glasses can be used as a camera that will film everything a user sees. At the beginning it was thought that the device will be heavily used in industry, for example, providing remote access for a specialist to schemes and drawings.
Mobile X-ray
Idea: portable smartphones/X-rays will help the doctors to diagnose fractures and tumors, lifeguards – to seek people under obstructions, shop assistants – to distinguish counterfeit money from real one, builders – to find lost or forgotten tools, customs officers – to seek drugs in the clothes of suspects, or simply to bate the curiosity of regular users.
The invention represents a regular smartphone with a built-in chip that allows seeing through walls, wood, plastic, and even human skin. It was created in the Texas University in Dallas and presented to wide audience during the conference Solid-State Circuits Conference in April, 2012.
Smart clothes
Idea: to create clothes that will control physical state of the organism.
“Smart” textile fabric has already been created by some groups of specialists. Thus, scientists from University of Carlos III in Madrid invented a T-shirt that can watch after the health of its owner. In the textile of this T-shirt special electrodes are implemented that react to heart beat, body temperature, level of physical activity. Despite the expansive stuffing, T-shirt can easily be washed.
“Smart” textile fabric has already been created by some groups of specialists. Thus, scientists from University of Carlos III in Madrid invented a T-shirt that can watch after the health of its owner. In the textile of this T-shirt special electrodes are implemented that react to heart beat, body temperature, level of physical activity. Despite the expansive stuffing, T-shirt can easily be washed.
Sixth sense
Idea: creation of gadgets that will help the blind. Already hit the market the devices that help to discern Braille, send text messages on mobile phones, and even ride a car. For example, Brazilian scientists have already created a gadget that helps a blind person to choose the right goods in a shop. The device is called See Assistive Technology and consists of wrist bracelet and wireless earphones. The bracelet is used for scanning products’ bar codes and earphones tell this information to a person.
Biosonic Vision Australia has announced the creation of an artificial digital eye of a new generation, and the government has allowed its testing on people. Special chip is implanted into an eye socket and is connected to a nervous system with the help of a network of electrodes. The device also includes a camera implemented into special glasses. This camera translates images. The implant receives these data and transfers them to a brain.
Mind control
Idea: in future mind control technology will take the place of the voice control technology that is popular nowadays. The sensors that will detect the changes in brain activity will be placed on a head and computer will decode the data collected by these sensors and transmit them to a device. Such technology is rather new but developers from different countries are working on it. Thus, on World Mobile Congress in 2010 Japanese developers presented earphones with electrodes that can be controlled by the movements of the eyes. Though it’s not exactly controlled by the power of thought, but these developments will be useful further on.
Chips-implants
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Idea: implanted in a human body, chips will become the most reliable passwords and identifiers. A person becomes “a thing in itself”: without any additional documents, papers and devices he or she will be able to open a door, check the state of health, or take a bank loan.
Specialists from Illinois University offer to implant such chips in the form of medical tattoos on skin. Thin polymer film will be able to replace thermometer, cardiograph and other diagnostic devices.
The researchers from Brown University for 10 years have been developing BrainGate2 technology which now undergoes clinical trials. The idea of the project is to help paralyzed people by making their brain to control robotized artificial limbs. The technology has already proved to be successful as an American woman managed to hold a cup with an artificial hand and drink coffee from it.
Idea: implanted in a human body, chips will become the most reliable passwords and identifiers. A person becomes “a thing in itself”: without any additional documents, papers and devices he or she will be able to open a door, check the state of health, or take a bank loan.
Specialists from Illinois University offer to implant such chips in the form of medical tattoos on skin. Thin polymer film will be able to replace thermometer, cardiograph and other diagnostic devices.
The researchers from Brown University for 10 years have been developing BrainGate2 technology which now undergoes clinical trials. The idea of the project is to help paralyzed people by making their brain to control robotized artificial limbs. The technology has already proved to be successful as an American woman managed to hold a cup with an artificial hand and drink coffee from it.
Virtual control
Idea: interaction with computer with the help of gestures.
The students from Massachusetts Technological University has created a project which allows you to control virtual objects in reality. In order to do that you need to wear special gloves. Virtual objects are projected into space and you can move and modify them with your hands in these gloves.
Japanese scientists from Keyo University have created an android that can be controlled by a first person. An operator puts on a helmet of virtual reality, special jacket and gloves. The sensors installed on these clothes fix the operator’s movements and a robot repeats them.
The students from Massachusetts Technological University has created a project which allows you to control virtual objects in reality. In order to do that you need to wear special gloves. Virtual objects are projected into space and you can move and modify them with your hands in these gloves.
Japanese scientists from Keyo University have created an android that can be controlled by a first person. An operator puts on a helmet of virtual reality, special jacket and gloves. The sensors installed on these clothes fix the operator’s movements and a robot repeats them.
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