Wearable Cell Phones Are Here

An anonymous reader writes "BusinessWeek Online just ran an article on wearable cell phones. A cell phone in a powder case? In a wrist watch? Inside your earring? Sure, why not. And these phones could make it into the U.S. in the next year."

Comments

The last place I'd want it...

[ScytheBlade1]

...is in my ear. I hate telemarketers enough as-is, but to have them that close to me 24/7? I'll stick with my normal phone, thank you.

Re:The last place I'd want it...

[zoloto]

Or on my wrist for that matter. It's one thing to get a phone call in the middle of a date and ignore it because it's on vibrate, but if it's on my wrist in my watch it's a little harder to ignore if I'm trying to make a move. Then again, that can't be all bad actually... ... nevermind, carry on.

Yeah

[ParticleMan911]

My Cellular Thong is already on pre-order.

Re:Yeah

[john_smith_45678]

Hmm, bet that'll get people to switch the ringer from loud ring tones to vibrate.

From the article

[PaintyThePirate]

That could change soon. NTT DoCoMo, a pioneer in wireless services, is developing a technology called FingerWhisper that uses a hand's bone structure to make a wrist watch phone easier to manage and operate. Here's how it works: When a call arrives, the phone sends vibrations through the bones in the index finger. When the finger is slipped into the ear canal, those vibrations turn into voice. The technology also would allow users to dial phone numbers or send text messages by tapping their palms in certain ways. And the technology doesn't seem to pose any health risks, says a DoCoMo spokesperson.

And you thought the taco-shaped side-talking N-Gage was embarassing...

Re:From the article

[kcorporation]

When the finger is slipped into the ear canal, those vibrations turn into voice

I think I speak for all of us when I say, "Go, go, Gadget Phone!"

Re:From the article

[AndroidCat]

"Yes, Bob is here, but no, I won't pass the phone to him."

Star Trek

[Entropy248]

Aw shit... Here come those damned communicator pins. On the show, they seemed really cool. In an age with cellphones with speaker phone (or even worse, the dreaded BLEEP walkie talkies), they now seem like the rudest invention of all time. I've always thought the best compromise was an in-ear implant, but I suspect we're years away from those. Plus the three tone error message would officially hurt like hell. (We're sorry, the number you have reached has been disconnected. But, you won't hear this message because you're now deaf.)

Now I get it

[k_killmore]

All those guys on the subway talking to themselves weren't crazy, they were beta testers.

Re:Tin foil hat...

[ParticleMan911]

To spy on them it'd take a lot of anytime minutes. Better have it set to spy on Nights and Weekends only.

In a suppository?

[john_smith_45678]

Just wondering, because I've seen bumper stickers like this:

"Would you drive any better if i shoved that cell phone up your ass?"

*fap* *fap* *fap*

[Suchetha]

The technology also would allow users to dial phone numbers or send text messages by tapping their palms in certain ways.

oh.. *pant* *pant* *pant* sorry.. *pant*pant* wrong number... *click*

Suchetha

Like on Knight Rider!

[Random BedHead Ed]

Wow, I've been waiting for this since the 1980s. Just pull my left wrist up toward my chin and speak loudly into my watch: "KITT, I'm in trouble!"