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What problem(s) do you or someone you know have, that you wish / want technology to solve?

cstanton

The title pretty much says it all.

 

I had the problem of needing to monitor and take care of my crested gecko, I'm part of the way there and most of the work is now taken care for me.

 

However there are other scenarios which I still haven't fully explored, one being my partner has a condition called fibromyalgia and it was pretty destroying for them to no longer be comfortable at a computer, and voice control is frustrating (mainly Dragon Dictate Naturally Speaking). So a simple task like holding a game controller is no longer comfortable, and it'd be great if technology was able to solve this for them, either via EEG control (which isn't quite there yet) or other form of interface (VR is almost a step in the right direction but still, physical control). We did get some part of the way by customising a dance mat, because standing/walking was less of an issue image but it still requires some work.

 

What problems or difficulties have you seen where you either know the tech' is there to solve it, or wish that it was to help with? Or have you already been working on something?

  • I had the experience of a family member who went through pretty significant cognitive decline late in her life, and one thing I noticed was that it was much easier to have a conversation with her when it was very clear whom she was talking to. Once you established that connection, she became more lucid, but (for example) phone conversations were very difficult because she struggled to understand or remember who was on the line.

     

    I'm not sure I have a specific project in mind right now, but I think there would be a lot of value in a device or app that could assist with memory and recognition.

  • I recall seeing a glove type device that had accelerometers to detect movement.

    If this was combined with flex sensors, then you might have the makings of a movement sensor that simulated a mouse.

     

    voice control is frustrating

    I also recall the PR people tauting that we wouldn't have keyboards by now, and it seems the computing power has increased well beyond what was needed, yet it still isn't here ...

     

    Mark

  • in reply to mcb1

    There was the Mattel Power Glove

     

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Glove

     

    It used ultrasonics to determine position.

     

    tom

  • Hi Christopher,

     

    Sorry to hear that, it does sound interesting that EEG based systems could help.

    By coincidence I was thinking hard about what technology could solve today because of the news report about a poor lady who was killed possibly by a family member, and the Apple watch the lady was wearing has revealed what time it likely occurred, and it is being used as evidence. It got me thinking of how technology could monitor us without being 1984-ish, and could it nearly eradicate violent crimes if the systems got to the point where they gathered enough data at the right time. For instance, the "Verbal Morality" alert machine that Stallone hated so much in Demolition Man : ) is something we could build today with a Pi, and it would totally function, reliably I imagine, but of course swearing isn't a crime. However, if such a system could detect more serious situations such as real crime or violence, then maybe we'd want it, capturing key things during emergencies, in cities, offices and homes, or via the watch or mobile phone. Maybe a lot can be done through audio, which could one day help reduce the amount of security cams perhaps.

  • in reply to mcb1

    I recall flex sensors being used with gloves on a few of the Cornell ECE 4760 student projects e.g.:

     

    Gesture glove

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1lSoTNKzfQ

     

    MIDI glove

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPpHUEJAIx4

     

    Virtual bowling glove

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjyopkklUP8

  • in reply to danzima

    There's definitely benefit to screens that show you who is calling you. I actually have a mild irritation with smartphones in that I have to remove the handset from my face to interact with the phone and see the details of who dialled, I guess a smart watch kinda helps with that now?

  • in reply to mcb1

    I have also tinkered with one of these (I still have it actually):

     

  • in reply to cstanton

    I have to remove the handset from my face to interact with the phone and see the details of who dialled

    Haha. I usually look to see who is calling before deciding how to answer.  ....

     

    Of course you need to have them in your contacts and a picture always helps.