Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft Says Goodbye GUI, Hello MUI
theodp writes "On New Year's Eve, the USPTO revealed that Microsoft is seeking patents for controlling a computer by simply flexing a muscle. Microsoft proposes using Electromyography (EMG) sensors and a wired or wireless human-computer interface to interact with computing systems and attached devices via electrical signals generated by specific movement of the user's muscles. 'It is important to consider mechanisms for acquiring human input that may not necessarily require direct manipulation of a physical implement,' explained the inventors. 'For example, drivers attempting to query their vehicle navigation systems may find it advantageous to be able to do so without removing their hands from the steering wheel, and a person in a meeting may want to unobtrusively communicate with someone outside. Also, since physical computer input devices have been shown to be prone to collecting microbial contamination in sterile environments, techniques that alleviate the need for these implements could be useful in surgical and clean room settings.'"
Slashdot's headline is misleading. It's not meant for blind people. It's meant to eliminate "Human-computer interactions" such as "mice, keyboards, pens, dials, and touch-sensitive surfaces" that require a "direct manipulation of a physical implement". It'll still require some type of visual input for the user.
I remembered that most of the new work on prosthetic arms these days focuses on using EMG to drive the arm behaviour (including Dean Kamen's new bionic arm), and there's a bunch of stuff done (and papers released) with driving the mouse for people with disabilities.
Surely this patent application has to be thrown out, and isn't Microsoft just wasting the Patent Office (and our) time with applications that are so easily shown to have been demonstrated before?
Look Ma, No Pen! Electrical Impulses Can Reproduce Handwriting
SmartHand: Merging Mind and Machine
Application of facial electromyography in computer mouse access for people with disabilities
Demonstrating the feasibility of using forearm electromyography for muscle-computer interfaces
Electromyography sensor based control for a hand exoskeleton
What's the original part here? The patent application does not specify any specific software application (just talks about interpreting the signals), so all the prior art should hold.
M$ isn't looking to return back on investment for one year, or even a few years when it comes from R&D. They're looking for another alchemist's stone, which has the power to turn bullshit into gold.
That's what they had with Windows and the home PC.
That's what they're searching for now.
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