Skinput

Imagine dialing your phone using a projected keypad on your hand. This idea seems pretty crazy but Chris Harrison, a researcher from Carniege Mellon Univeristy, is making it a reality with Skinput, a device which used the body as an input device for small electronics. "Since we cannot imply make buttons and screens larger without losing the primary benefit of small size, we consider alternative approaches that enhance interaction with small mobile systems." A sensor is worn around the upper arm and when it's user taps a particular part of the arm the device somehow measure the waves and echos produced by the tap in order to perform a certain function. This video fully explains how this technology works. The device also contains an on-body projector which means that it's user can use their arm as an input device. Chris Harrison has been working on Skinput with Desney Tan and Dan Morris from Microsoft Research. Skinput will be presented at the 28th Annual SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Atlanta, Georgia this April.

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