Thursday, June 24, 2004
Microsoft Patents Skin
Posted by Brad Adrian in "ARTICLE" @ 04:55 PM
"Microsoft has been awarded a patent for using human skin as a power conduit and data bus. Patent No. 6,754,472, which was published Tuesday, describes a method for transmitting power and data to devices worn on the body and for communication of data between those devices."
This CNET article goes on to describe the patent:
In its filing, Microsoft cites the proliferation of wearable electronic devices, such as wristwatches, pagers, PDAs (worn on people's belts) and small displays that can now be mounted on headgear.
"As a result of carrying multiple portable electronic devices, there is often a significant amount of redundancy in terms of input/output devices included in the portable devices used by a single person," says the filing. "For example, a watch, pager, PDA and radio may all include a speaker." To reduce the redundancy of input/output devices, Microsoft's patent proposes a personal area network that allows a single data input or output device to be used by multiple portable devices."
"Furthermore, Microsoft said, the physical resistance offered by the human body could be used to create a virtual keyboard on a patch of skin."
So, the bottom line is that Microsoft thinks it can develop a way to create a Personal Area Network by using the natural conductivity and resistance of our skin. Pretty nifty, huh? It does generate a few questions in my mind, though:
• How much energy is actually needed for the PAN to work?
• What types of personal gadgets would this technology work with?
• Will my beloved SCOTTeVEST become obsolete [perish the thought]?
UPDATE: Here is a cartoon that offers an interesting perspective on the topic.
This CNET article goes on to describe the patent:
In its filing, Microsoft cites the proliferation of wearable electronic devices, such as wristwatches, pagers, PDAs (worn on people's belts) and small displays that can now be mounted on headgear.
"As a result of carrying multiple portable electronic devices, there is often a significant amount of redundancy in terms of input/output devices included in the portable devices used by a single person," says the filing. "For example, a watch, pager, PDA and radio may all include a speaker." To reduce the redundancy of input/output devices, Microsoft's patent proposes a personal area network that allows a single data input or output device to be used by multiple portable devices."
"Furthermore, Microsoft said, the physical resistance offered by the human body could be used to create a virtual keyboard on a patch of skin."
So, the bottom line is that Microsoft thinks it can develop a way to create a Personal Area Network by using the natural conductivity and resistance of our skin. Pretty nifty, huh? It does generate a few questions in my mind, though:
• How much energy is actually needed for the PAN to work?
• What types of personal gadgets would this technology work with?
• Will my beloved SCOTTeVEST become obsolete [perish the thought]?
UPDATE: Here is a cartoon that offers an interesting perspective on the topic.
