cslewis said:
How about a proto-telepathic interface?
MattG said:
I want an iPod that can read my mind...I'll bet Apple could do it
It can be done and is already being done. A receptor near the part of your brain that controls movement picks up where you want something to go (like a mouse pointer) Currently however there is a little disadvantage, because you need a pin through your skull to pick up the signals accuratly enough. However, there have been experiments with "stickers" on your skull, but this is less accuratly. Still, it should be well enough for an iPod Shuffle interface. And if they incorporate this in headphones, it should be possible.
mi5moav said:
1. Power Supply through SplashPower. Similar to those toothbrushes and razors that charge through there plastics with magnetic fields.(strange they haven't updated there site since September 05...did Apple acquire them?)
(...)
3. Headphone jack...Bluetooth
1. I don't think a razor or toothbrush require as much power as an iPod, especially not with a 4 inch screen. Charching through magnetic fields is only good enough for very light electrical equipment, that doesn't require a lot of power
3. Have you ever listened via bluetooth headphones? It's crap
Finiksa said:
This sounds like a brilliant concept. If it ever makes it into a shipping product I suspect Apple would utilise it to maintain the protective layer of plastic over the screen like current iPods instead of exposing the fragile LCD/OLED display. The users could scroll directly on the iPod housing instead of having to float their finger in the air above the display.
Amen.
As for tactile feedback, I think that it would not be that hard to adjust the controls to the position of your fingers. Imagine you are driving in a car, you don't look at the iPod, but you tap once on the surface, and whereever you touch is the middle button, and then you don't really need this feedback.
But I think the biggest advantage is that it would be very very simple to adjust the interface to dial phonenumbers, type text messages, and so on. In other words: the iPhone would be within handreach, and it would not require dozens of buttons added to interface (eg via a dock connector like the FM radio) I believe this was planned for 2006