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The problem I've always had with audio interfaces is that input is not private. Requests on public transportation are heard by many. Requests at home turn into

The problem I've always had with audio interfaces is that input is not private. Requests on public transportation are heard by many. Requests at home turn into a conversation with the roommate, spouse, or children. Requests walking down the street make others question the mental wellbeing of the person talking to him/herself. I'm reminded of the Ender's Game sequels in which the protagonist wears a small earpiece with an AI named Jane. He communicates with Jane by "subvocalizing" -- mentally saying the words, physically barely uttering a sound. The AI understands. A few years ago there was a TED talk (forgive me; unable to find the link) on which a technology was demoed to do something similar. Sensors placed around the throat, combined with EEG sensors around the temple, allowed a man to transmit text to a computer by following all the mental and muscle processes of speaking, stopping short of moving his lips in an obvious fashion or making sounds. The sensors allowed the computer to translate their input to actual words. Perfecting and miniaturizing that technology, then combining it with an in-ear AI, would be a game changer.

amasad 10y ago
I subvocalize when I read and it feels like I'm breathing the words. I think my vocal cords move too.
melling 10y ago
Yeah, you can always find a use case where something won't work then spend your time discussing why a solution won't work for you. However, I imagine that a lot of people would love the solution in many scenarios. Personally, I have no problem asking my phone a question when I'm walking down the street or driving. Basically, it would be nice to have the imperfect solution now then take it from there.
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
lewisl9029 10y ago
Agreed regarding the issues with audio interfaces. I'd personally love to experiment with a device with a Google Glass-type display, eye tracking to function as a virtual cursor, and a compact ring-like device to enable interactions with that cursor (such as tapping, dragging gestures, etc).
rmac 10y ago
The future is brain-to-text, where our thoughts get piped directly to Alexa/Siri/Cortana/Now http://www.kurzweilai.net/brain-to-text-system-converts-speech-brainwave-patterns-to-text http://www.kurzweilai.net/brain-to-text-system-converts-spee... No need to utter words in public.
- ferongr 10y ago
  If we have the interface why stop at brain to text? Why not make the computer a part of our brains?
  - raddad 10y ago
    >If we have the interface why stop at brain to text? Why not make the computer a part of our brains? This is how the Borg came about. Actually I read about some guy who has a chip implanted which allows him to use his otherwise unusable hand. Right now it requires a bank of computers to function in the lab. Paralyzed man with breakthrough brain chip plays guitar video game, swipes credit card http://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/new-tech-helps-paralyzed-man-move-hand-with-mind http://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/new-tech-helps-paralyzed-m...
  - dsr_ 10y ago
    Two major reasons: upgrades and security. Do you want to get the shiniest, greatest interface of 2027 installed, only to discover in 2035 that after three upgrade cycles, your hardware is obsolete and won't be supported? Do you want to get the best-tested, most upgradable interface of 2027 only to discover in 2028 that you were one of the hundred people who were hit by a zero-day exploit and a bot-net has root in your head?
- xirdstl 10y ago
  Maybe, but that has to be a long way out. I can see what the parent describes happening well before brain-to-text.
- userbinator 10y ago
  where our thoughts get piped directly to Alexa/Siri/Cortana/Now ...and around the same time, they'll probably also figure out how to pipe adverts directly into our brains. I guess you could call that the scary side of "seamless" HCI.
ndesaulniers 10y ago
Jane! Just bought my little sister Speaker For The Dead. \m/
notliketherest 10y ago
You are forgiven in the lack of (Ted Talk) reference, oh wise Hackernews commenter.

amasad 10y ago

I subvocalize when I read and it feels like I'm breathing the words. I think my vocal cords move too.

melling 10y ago

Yeah, you can always find a use case where something won't work then spend your time discussing why a solution won't work for you. However, I imagine that a lot of people would love the solution in many scenarios. Personally, I have no problem asking my phone a question when I'm walking down the street or driving. Basically, it would be nice to have the imperfect solution now then take it from there.

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

lewisl9029 10y ago

Agreed regarding the issues with audio interfaces. I'd personally love to experiment with a device with a Google Glass-type display, eye tracking to function as a virtual cursor, and a compact ring-like device to enable interactions with that cursor (such as tapping, dragging gestures, etc).

rmac 10y ago

The future is brain-to-text, where our thoughts get piped directly to Alexa/Siri/Cortana/Now http://www.kurzweilai.net/brain-to-text-system-converts-speech-brainwave-patterns-to-text http://www.kurzweilai.net/brain-to-text-system-converts-spee... No need to utter words in public.

ferongr 10y ago
If we have the interface why stop at brain to text? Why not make the computer a part of our brains?
- raddad 10y ago
  >If we have the interface why stop at brain to text? Why not make the computer a part of our brains? This is how the Borg came about. Actually I read about some guy who has a chip implanted which allows him to use his otherwise unusable hand. Right now it requires a bank of computers to function in the lab. Paralyzed man with breakthrough brain chip plays guitar video game, swipes credit card http://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/new-tech-helps-paralyzed-man-move-hand-with-mind http://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/new-tech-helps-paralyzed-m...
- dsr_ 10y ago
  Two major reasons: upgrades and security. Do you want to get the shiniest, greatest interface of 2027 installed, only to discover in 2035 that after three upgrade cycles, your hardware is obsolete and won't be supported? Do you want to get the best-tested, most upgradable interface of 2027 only to discover in 2028 that you were one of the hundred people who were hit by a zero-day exploit and a bot-net has root in your head?
xirdstl 10y ago
Maybe, but that has to be a long way out. I can see what the parent describes happening well before brain-to-text.
userbinator 10y ago
where our thoughts get piped directly to Alexa/Siri/Cortana/Now ...and around the same time, they'll probably also figure out how to pipe adverts directly into our brains. I guess you could call that the scary side of "seamless" HCI.

ndesaulniers 10y ago

Jane! Just bought my little sister Speaker For The Dead. \m/

notliketherest 10y ago

You are forgiven in the lack of (Ted Talk) reference, oh wise Hackernews commenter.