by Administrator
7. March 2010 18:51
Have you ever tried to have an important business phone call on the way from a key meeting only to struggle to be heard over the noise of the traffic/train? Many mobile workers have and have failed miserably. All that could be about to change though!
New technology has been developed which could put an end to those noisy phone conversations. The new prototype device could allow people to conduct phone calls without saying one word!
How does it work?
The clever technology uses a technique called electromyography which measures the tiny electrical signals that are produced by the muscles when someone speaks. It then uses these signals to generate speech on another handset.
And it doesn't just stop at spoken words; the device is so clever it can even record the pulses generated when someone simply mouths words.
The prototype has been on display at the Cebit electronics fair in Germany and works by attaching nine electrodes to someone's face. The electrical pulses are passed to a device which records and amplifies them before being sent to a laptop via Bluetooth. Once on the laptop, the pulses are translated into text before being spoken by a synthesiser.
When would you use it?
There are many situations this technology would be useful. These include packed public transport, busy cafes and even in the office when you need to talk about confidential information. NASA are even believed to be interested in the technology for use in their noisy space station!
The device could even be used by people who have lost their voice for whatever reason, be it an accident or illness.
"I was taking the train and the person sitting next to me was constantly chatting and I thought 'I need to change this'," said Professor Tanja Shultz of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. "We call it silent communication."
When can I get it?
At the moment, nowhere - it's still in the early prototype stages so it won't be available for purchase for at least another couple of years. Although it doesn't have mass market appeal at the moment, we believe once it's launched, it could change the way mobile workers work forever.
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