Sound Waves

To date, working with computers usually involves using the ubiquitous mouse and keyboard, a set of tools that work very well in most situations but when size or the ability to work in hazardous, dirty environments comes into play, said mouse and keyboard can render any system useless in ways that defy description. An elegant way around this involves using sound as the front end because sound can create interfaces of any size with no moving parts save that of the computer the interface is connected to. In effect, everything can become a Computing Surface. “Time reversal is a beautiful technology,” he says. “Unlike TDOA, it works with any object and it does not require special materials. Because it needs only a single sensor and a normal computer, it is very simple and cost-effective.

and .. "With ordinary interface devices (e.g. keyboard, mouse, touch screen and ultrasonic pen), the interaction of humans with computers is restricted to a particular device at a certain location within a small movement area. A challenge in human computer interaction research is to create tangible interfaces that will make the interaction possible via augmented physical surfaces, graspable objects and ambient media (e.g. wall, tabletop and air), as well as making the interaction natural without the need for a hand held device."

Tangible Acoustic Interfaces for Computer Human Interaction”, an EU founded project, intends to leverage this tech big time. To get an extended view on the sonic connection, click on the TAI-CHI image above.

"A Nodis a good as a Wink to a blind horse." - Faces