Sshhh, It's Listening: Totally New Computer Interfaces
From: ICT Results - 12/12/2007

European scientists working with the Tangible Acoustic Interfaces for
Computer-Human Interaction (TAI-CHI) project have used acoustic sensors to
turn wooden tabletops and even three-dimensional, everyday objects into a new
type of computer interface. By attaching sensors to solid materials, the
researchers were able to locate and track acoustic vibrations. Tapping on
certain areas of a whiteboard could generate musical notes on a computer, and
tracking the sound of a finger writing words on a sheet of hardboard could be
recorded, in real time, as handwriting on a computer screen, eliminating the
need for interfaces like keyboards. Sensing vibrations in a solid material
and converting them to electrical signals is easy, but exactly locating the
source of the vibration has been difficult due to the complex structures of
solids and the variations they cause in wave propagation. For example, knots
in wood will alter how acoustic vibrations travel. The TAI-CHI team explored
four different technologies including Time Delay of Arrival (TDOA), time
reversal, Multi-Sensor Tracking through the Reversal of Dispersion, and
in-solid acoustic holography. Tangible acoustic interfaces will not replace
keyboards and mice anytime soon, but there are certain situations that would
benefit from having alternative interfaces, such as in dirty environments or
hospitals where keyboards could becoming hiding places for bacteria and
viruses. "Time reversal is a beautiful technology," says researcher Ming
Yang. "Unlike TDOA, it works with any object and does note require special
materials. Because it needs only a single sensor and a normal computer, it is
very simple and cost effective. One spin-off company from the University of
Paris is working on commercial applications for this."  

Read the entire article at:
http://cordis.europa.eu/ictresults/index.cfm/section/news/tpl/article/BrowsingType/Features/ID/89389

Links:
Tangible Acoustic Interfaces for Computer-Human Interaction
http://www.taichi.cf.ac.uk/
http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=PROJ_IST&ACTION=D&DOC=8&CAT=PROJ&QUERY=1196341764243&RCN=71121
