The human body as sound machine
Sony researchers use body as a conduit
This whole wireless thing has had a good run, but it's getting old. The really hot networking trend of the future is the human body.
(Credit:
New Scientist)
We've already seen how Korean researchers are turning flesh and bones into a "body area network." Now, New Scientist reports that Sony researchers can send audio signals from headphones or media players directly through the body of the listener, essentially using it as a living capacitator.
"A music or video player sends a fluctuating signal to a conductive cloth pad--such as a wrist band--and this slightly charges the wearer's body. A pair of conductive ear pads in the headphones pick up the signal and rapidly convert it back into sound," the article explains. "Just a few millionths of an amp flow through the wearer's body, so there should be no nasty tingling effect."
Upon further reflection, we think our Bluetooth works just fine.
