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textures, move our bodies, orient ourselves in space, sense changes
in temperature, smell, listen, affect our own brain waves, control our
breathing—so many human capabilities not recognized by most digital
devices. In this respect, the most popular ways in which we now inter-
act with technology, namely through the tips of our fingers, will some-
day seem like crude, one-dimensional methods.
Fortunately, the technology to sense these kinds of physical interac-
tions already exists or is being worked on in research labs.
(Near) Future Technology
L et ’s consider some of the ways that physical and digital technologies
are becoming a reality, beginning with technologies and products that
are already available to us:
• In 2012 , we saw the release of the Leap Motion Controller, a highly
sensitive gestural interface, followed closely by Mylo, an armband
that accomplishes similar Minority Report–style interactions, but
using changes in muscles rather than cameras.
• When it comes to touchscreens, Senseg uses electrostatic impulses
to create the sensation of different textures. Tactus Technologies
takes a different approach, and has “physical buttons that rise up
from the touchscreen surface on demand.”
• To demonstrate how sensors are weaving themselves into our daily
lives, Lumo Back is a sensor band worn around the waist to help
improve posture.
• We’ve got the Ambient umbrella, which alerts you if it will be
needed, based on available weather data.
• A recent Kickstarter project aims to make DrumPants (the name
says it all!) a reality.
• In the wearables space, we have technologies such as conductive
inks, muscle wire, thermochromic pigments, electrotextiles, and
light diffusing acrylic (see Figure 5 - 4 ). Artists are experimenting
with these new technologies, creating things like a quilt that dou-
bles as a heat-map visualization of the stock market (or whatever
dynamic data you link to it).
nandana
(Nandana)
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