'Voiceless phone' reads your thoughts

[abdulhakeem]

Mar 13 2008
Mike Yamamoto (http://crave.cnet.com/8300-1_105-1.html?authorId=132&tag=author)

Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyN4ViZ21N0)

The next generation in voice technology may bypass the mouth altogether. A couple of weeks ago we saw a consumer product called the "Roadrunner (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9883449-1.html)" headset with microphones strategically placed next to the voicebox--which readers say was based on military versions (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9883449-1.html#comments)--but a new technology takes the concept to a level worthy of a sci-fi novel.

Ambient's "Audeo (http://www.theaudeo.com/)," which colleague Rafe Needleman saw demonstrated at a conference in September (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9784755-1.html), is described as a "voiceless phone (http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn13449-nervetapping-neckband-allows-telepathic-chat.html)" that uses sensors worn around the neck. A trained individual "can send nerve signals to their vocal cords without making a sound," according to New Scientist Tech, adding that "these signals are picked up by the neckband and relayed wirelessly to a computer that converts them into a computerized voice." The technology behind the Audeo has also been used in controlling wheelchairs.

One reassuring aspect: Ambient co-founder Michael Callahan says the system requires "a level above thinking," meaning that it will work only with thoughts about specific words--so it won't blurt out whatever pops into your head.

http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9893162-1.html

[abdulhakeem]

Audeo Neckband Translates Your Thoughts Into Speech

Posted Mar 13th 2008
by Terrence O'Brien (http://www.switched.com/bloggers/terrence-obrien)

Who wants to waste energy speaking words when just thinking about speaking will do? Audeo -- a neckband that detects nerve impulses sent to the larynx (http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/13/audeo-think-n-spell-neckband-allows-voiceless-phone-calls/) -- will help you do just that. The techo-accessory has previously been demonstrated controlling a motorized wheel chair (http://www.switched.com/2007/09/10/a-wheelchair-powered-by-the-mind/), but now the scientists behind the device have added "voiceless" speech to its repetoire of tricks.

Ambient Corporation demonstrated a phone conversation where one side of the discussion was not spoken but thought, then converted words and vocalized by a computer. The Audeo could prove to be a boon not only for those who have lost the ability to speak, but those who simply don't want to discuss sensitive or private matters out-loud in public, since presumably one could just think of something and evenutally send it in an e-mail or text message.

The current model only understands 150 English-language different words, and suffers from a noticeable delay between thought and vocalizations.

Don't worry about your secret thoughts getting accidentally transcribed, however, since the device requires a "level above thinking" according to Ambient co-founder Michael Callahan, to actually translate into speech. In other words, you'd have to specifically think about speaking specific sentences for them to get vocalized or transcribed.

Ambient is working on a next gen model already that will have a vocalization engine based on phonemes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoneme) that will give the device an unlimited vocabulary, but will come at the cost of even slower performance. Check out the video for a demonstration.

From NewScientist (http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/dn13449-nervetapping-neckband-allows-telepathic-chat.html?feedId=online-news_rss20) (via Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/13/audeo-think-n-spell-neckband-allows-voiceless-phone-calls/))
(http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/dn13449-nervetapping-neckband-allows-telepathic-chat.html?feedId=online-news_rss20)
http://www.switched.com/2008/03/13/audeo-neckband-translates-your-thoughts-into-speech/

[Pro_Candy]

That is SO cool!