Gadgets
| Human-computer interfaces, in the form of wearable tech and assistance for the disabled especially, are already improving everyday life. Here are a few examples. |
Mankind has dreamed of the fusion of man and machine since as early as the 19th Century, with Edgar Allan Poe’s short story "The Man That Was Used Up"
detailing a cyborg-like individual relying on mechanical prostheses. Speculative fiction has long discussed the possibilities of human-machine interface taking the form of a single entity, one which can achieve more than either component would on its own, for the benefit of human life. While we’re not quite at the point where nanobot-controlled organs and telepathic internet access are available to us, humanity is currently using several extant technologies to improve everyday life. | Related articles |
Assistance for the Disabled
One of the best side-effects of mobile tech development has been the application of these commercial devices to assisting the blind and visually-impaired. Smartphones and other wearables (notably, smartwatches) are being used to sense depth via stereovision. This works by the wearing of two camera-equipped mobile devices, with both cameras pointed in the same direction, and having them send depth information to the user. This can be a viable technological alternative to traditional assistance tools, like canes and guide dogs.Researchers are looking into further assistive uses for mobile technology in everything from guide robots for the visually impaired and remote-controlled camera feeds that allow the wheelchair-bound to experience more of the world than would otherwise be possible.
Industrial Applications
Industrial work is also benefiting from human-machine interface developments. Touch panels, like those offered by Coast Automation, provide their users with fast and simple computer access. Visual panels, used in production, offer machine operators to interact with the machine in a visual and user-friendly way. This can not only improves the efficiency of the operator but also the quality of the work produced. Wearable Communication
There are few who would argue that mobile technology hasn’t revolutionized communications. Wearable devices take this innovation a step, further, enabling hands-free communication to take place almost anywhere. The experience of live, face-to-face conversation is preserved—if somewhat imperfectly, at present—by wearable technology. Current wearable devices, like Google Glass and different variations on the SmartWatch, have already become quite popular with consumers.Ensuring one’s own physical safety has also been made easier with the rise of wearable tech in the form of jewelry. Some of these fashionable pieces can be programmed to alert a predetermined emergency contact at the push of a discreet button. For those who deal with the threat of physical harm on a regular basis, this technology may prove to be a literal lifesaver.
| By Emma Sturgis | Embed |
Author Bio - Emma is a freelance writer currently living in Boston, MA. She writes most often on education and technology. When not writing, she enjoys watching old movies and indoor rock climbing.
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