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Researchers Push Implanted User Interfaces

Posted by timothy on from the well-if-it's-good-enough-for-cadavers dept.

MatthewVD writes "A new, user interface-enabled generation of electronics that you wear under your skin could be used for convenience, or even pleasure, rather than medical reasons. Scientists at Autodesk Research in Toronto have implanted electronics with user buttons, pressure sensors and LEDs under the skin of a cadaver's arm and wrapped in artificial skin. The electronics could buzz you when you have an appointment, carry memory cards with data, or connect you in a social network with others wearing electronics."

8 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Is it practical? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Isn't it better to have external gizmos? Electronic thingies tend to break, be obsolete, be hacked, be stolen.
    All of the above get a lil' worse when the stuff is right inside you.
    All of this without the orwellian aspects taken into account.

    1. Re:Is it practical? by MoonBuggy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      On the one hand, what you say is absolutely correct. On the other hand, being a cyborg would be really, really cool...

  2. Here it cums... by shadesOG · · Score: 5, Insightful

    'electronics could buzz you when you have an appointment' I'm sure this will be used for only appointments.

  3. skin response by alphatel · · Score: 4, Funny

    For a time...I was tempted by the offer. 0.68 seconds, to be exact. For an android, that is nearly an eternity.

    --
    When the foot seeks the place of the head, the line is crossed. Know your place. Keep your place. Be a shoe.
  4. operation every two years by Ptur · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yay, looking forward to the operation every two years, to upgrade or repair.... seeing how long it takes for electronics to break these days, or how long hardware/software is supported by the manufacturer.

  5. Bluetooth Zombies? by luckytroll · · Score: 4, Funny

    Neat technology, but the use of cadavers is a little disconcerting.

    Now we will have to fight off bluetooth and WiFi enabled zombies in the coming apocalypse.

    Luckily for us the Zombies will probably be content to use WEP and 2GHz. No worries!

  6. The end result by Grayhand · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How long until we are encouraged to get "subsidized" implants so we get helpful reminders about "special offers". Then one day I find myself getting offers of dick pills in my sleep by my subsidized implants. I find touch interfaces annoying enough so why on earth would I be implanted with a device that will be out of date in a year? Implants mean being tracked 24/7 and being at the mercy of those making the implants. Already there's talk of companies requiring implants to access facilities. The first time I saw some one had been implanted with a tracking chip I didn't say how wonderful I got the cold sweats. Most people are sheep which means I get swept along with what they'll accept. Great our new computer system at work requires implants so I either agree to it or I get fired or handed a broom. Can't happen? Flown on a plane lately? They practically require DNA. Everyone accepts it because it makes us "safer". Millions of people jump through hoops and give up rights without a shred of proof that it makes us safer and yet they accept it. Before the technology moves forward I want a law banning a requirement to have the implants for any reason. Fine if it's an option but as soon as ANYONE requires you to have it to have a job or access a bank account our freedom is long gone. People can say how cool all they want, the first time a chip in my arm vibrates to tell me I have a new spam e-mail is the moment I dig it out with a dull spoon.

  7. I don't think they thought this through by fish+waffle · · Score: 4, Funny

    What a stupid idea. Who the hell wants to carry around a cadaver's arm just to use their electronics?