A new brain-machine interface has been developed that allows users to operate electronic devices (like a TV remote) using brain power alone. The system scans the brain with near-infrared radiation to measure tiny changes in blood flow that occur with mental activity.
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Posts Tagged ‘Future Tech’
Brain-Controlled Remote
Liquid Glass
A new spray-on coating is revolutionizing everything from medical implants to silk shirts, and could make cleaning products obsolete.
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Intelligent Shoe
One-quarter of seniors in the U.S. have a chronic problem with balance, leading to 300,000 broken hips annually, nearly 40 percent of which are followed by death within one year. In fact, falling is the leading cause of accidental death in adults over 85 years of age.
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Stem Cells From Blood
It was originally thought that the only cells capable of differentiating into a variety of organs (a.k.a. pluripotent stem cells) were those obtained from embryos. But researchers recently announced that they have successfully engineered stem cells from human blood – a breakthrough that could revolutionize how we diagnose and treat disease.
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Listen To Your Documents
A new scanner can turn any document into an audio document quickly and easily. Called BookReader, it scans books, magazines, or other documents, and then employs character recognition and text-to-speech software to play it back on your computer or portable audio device with an exceptionally human-like voice.
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The Power of Human Thought
Honda’s Asimo humanoid robot is now taking orders from a human brain using technology that allows a user to control its movements by thought alone.
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Fiber Optics For Your Home
As consumer electronics (including televisions, computers, audio systems, and other peripherals) become more interconnected, the amount of data being transferred over home networks is increasing dramatically, especially in the form of high resolution images and video.
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Smart Drug Dispensing Pill
A new medical device, which is scheduled to enter clinical trials later this year, will make it possible for doctors to more accurately dispense drugs that treat gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as colon cancer, colitis, and Crohn’s Disease.
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The Hydrogen Car Has Finally Arrived
Honda has rolled the first mass-production fuel cell automobiles off the assembly line. Called the FCX Clarity, the revolutionary new car looks and drives just like its gas-powered counterparts, but produces no harmful emissions. It’s powered by a specially designed, 100-kilowatt fuel cell that’s 65 percent smaller than other designs, leaving enough interior room to carry four passengers comfortably, while boasting a top speed of 100 miles per hour and a range of 280 miles.
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Voice Recognition Takes Off
For the past 25 years, I have been writing about, and predicting the future of, voice recognition technology. I’m happy to report that, as predicted, the past two years have seen a 100% growth rate in the market for voice recognition, which now represents over $1 billion in annual sales. Server-based voice recognition used to automate call centers has grown to $600 million, and speech technology embedded in items such as cell phones and dashboards (could the iPod be next?) is already running at $125 million a year.
But you haven’t seen anything yet! With ever increasing processing power, new software algorithms and better microphones being built into a wide variety of electronic devices including computers and cell phones, accuracy rates are already close to 100%. In addition, cell phone companies are quickly rolling out 3G networks, which provide the bandwidth that enables users to access powerful software from a server instead of trying to store sophisticated software packages on their phone.
BEYOND THE LAPTOP
A company called Nuance recently launched voice recognition software that allows users to dictate on their mobile device with amazing accuracy. Google is working on technology that will enable users of cell phones and other mobile devices to search by voice. Combine that with applications such as dictating e-mail or short letters, and you begin to see the possibilities. VoiceBox Technologies software on mobile devices can analyze the context of a word within a sentence so that words with double meanings are defined in the correct way based on the intent of the user.
Will speech recognition supplant typing, taping, texting and touching? Not totally, but it will free our fingers and help us keep our eyes on the road!
