New Input Devices

As news about the new Nintento Wii and especially the Wii remote resound through the land I decided it is time to put together a roundup of fancy input devices available or in development.

The first one to mention would be of course the Ninento Wii remote. It allows the user to interact with the console by means of phyisical gestures. So you can play baseball and literally be the batter or play golf and actually stroke the ball (or at least pretend to do so with the remote in your hand). This video explains the Wii remote’s concept. And here’s another very funny (and sexy) Wii comercial that disses the PS3 quite badly.
And somebody already hacked the Wii remote and is now able to control his Roomba. Check it out.

Furthermore, three researchers at Microsoft “have created an innovative handheld pointing device that works in mid-air” called Soap. There’s a video on how it works and how a Soap can be built here.

Researchers from Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France and the UK have developed a system that makes surfaces of any kind interactive with the help of acoustic sensors. For more information check out this article and the demonstration video.

The most intriguing concept however is a direct connection between computer and brain. There exists a very good wikipedia article about that topic. Of course ethical questions are to consider when those devices are not only used for treating disabilities but to enhance human function. Tough but very interesting topic.

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