University of Michigan researchers unveil SAWSense, a system that can turn just about any surface into a high-fidelity input device. It essentially uses technology from new bone-conduction microphones, called Voice Pickup Units (VPUs), which detect only those acoustic waves that travel along the surface of objects. This means it can work in noisy environments, along oddly-shaped items such as toys and arms, as well as on soft fabrics.
The system is capable of recognizing different inputs, including taps, scratches and swipes, all with 97% accuracy. In one test, a normal table was used to replace a laptop’s trackpad. Whether it be taps, swipes or other gestures, these actions send acoustic waves along the surfaces of materials. SAWSense then classifies these waves with machine learning to turn all touch into a set of tactile inputs.
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VPUs do a good job of sensing activities and events happening in a well-defined area. This allows the functionality that comes with a smart object without the privacy concerns of a standard microphone that senses the whole room, for example,” said Yasha Iravantchi, U-M doctoral candidate in computer science and engineering.
