Body Electric
Are you ready to turn your finger into a speaker? Called Ishin-Den-Shin after the Japanese phrase “what the mind thinks, the heart transmits,” technology developed by Disney Research uses the body as a sound transmitter — a recorded message can be heard by touching your ear to another person’s finger.How It Works
A computer connected to a handheld microphone records the message, transforming it into a sound loop that’s converted into a harmless high-voltage audio signal, which is then transmitted to the microphone’s conductive casing. The signal creates a modulated electrostatic field around the body of the person holding the microphone, allowing him or her to become a sound transmitter. Researchers say the technology can extend beyond the body, turning everyday items into interactive sound devices.
Cold, Hard Cash
Digital currency is becoming actual cash in Vancouver. The world’s first Bitcoin ATM became available in late October, followed by rumors that four more Robocoin ATMs will be installed in Canada. It’s been reported that the machine doesn’t look much different from a standard ATM, with the exception that users are verified through a palm scan instead of the traditional card and PIN combination.Source: Nextgov