For those of you who registered your vote for the mobile Web in our last poll, you'll be happy to know that the future of mobile lies in your hands -- well, more like in your arms. Surgically implanted inside your arms, that is.
According to Jim Mielke, creator of a device called the digital tattoo interface, cellphone users can have their mobile devices implanted inside their arms, right between their skin and muscle. This way, when they get a mobile phone or video call, rather than having to dig through a purse or pocket for some space-wasting, ringing device, they need only push a button on a two-by-four inch tattoo of a mobile phone on their forearm and -- *poof* -- up pops a digital, talking head.
As per the device description, "A coin sized blood fuel cell in the implant converts the blood's glucose and oxygen from the artery to the electricity required to power the device... It is always present, always on, but out of sight and non-obtrusive." But. It lives inside your arm. (Talk about being always connected...)
The device, Mielke says, can also double as a monitor for health conditions (like, insanity, I hope?) -- serving as a "check-engine light" for humans.
If all that isn't enticing enough for you, here's the best part: This gadget is green! Think of it this way, by surgically connecting a flexible, silicon Bluetooth device with your arteries, you are saving the Earth, one blood-powered mobile call at a time.
Despite this seemingly flawless initiative, one single problem remains: what to do about hands-free cellphone laws.
(Thanks to Dan Jones over at Unstrung for pointing this one out to us, although, the graphics did cause some initial nausea for this overly squeamish editor.)
Well not only checking on insanity but a report just out to day is confirming that cellphones would be checking diabetic levels!! No more piercing of fingers now but can digital control your diabetic condition!!!
Well, of course, with the one-upmanship of technology, few will be content with the surgically implanted cell phone that is only a cell phone.
Expect that Apple might roll out the iMPLANT, which still won't have 3G data capabilities, but will have a neat vectoring capability to always be able to display a map, Bluetoothed to a neighboring monitor, which, itself, will be able to be implanted in very large people.
Think about people who have a metal hip (or any other devices surgically
inserted in their bodies for legitimate, medical reasons) ... if you have a
cell phone surgically inserted do you get a special card that will help you
bypass security alarms?
Make room for Dr. Nokia the cell phone transplant surgeon.
I read the article about some research- the people were asked about would they allow to implant chips-so the guys mostly agreed to implant chips that would bring "new technologies", while the girls declined it.but...the girls agreed to get chips that would help to lose weight:)))))
I don't know whether Alan Reiter will allowed this new grotesque mobile technology into the amazing mobile world he is painting at internet evolution.
My pick though will be on the monitoring capability of the device. Would it be very nice then to to test the device on people experiencing temporary erractic mental fixations???
I think there are greater concerns to consider here. Like - what if you happen to lose your arm in a tragic sawing accident or something? Then - not only are you out one arm but you need to buy a new cellphone.
It makes you wonder if this would even fly. People are making the shift to devices that serve more purposes than just voice communications alone. By implementing this you would in a sense be knowingly downgrading your wireless experience. Just think about the privacy issues. Surely one could easily be tracked with an always-on device (wire mesh jacket here I come).
I've always figured we are just a few years away from some day punching our chest, a la Star Trek, the Next Generation, and immediately talking with someone on speed dial (or speed punch, I guess).
I think this thought just shows how pervasive mobile phones have become. I'm surprised we haven't seen some major league baseball player leading off second base, phone to ear, multi-tasking. Heck, this device could eliminate the need for a third-base coach or those pesky communication devices in the helmets of NFL quarterbacks.
Anyhoo, I, for one, applaud this great leap forward. Now the technology just needs to be applied to something useful. Roll on the digital coffee machine tattoo interface. Just think, as soon as your blood-caffiene level falls below a certain level the machine gives you another jolt of sweet, sweet expresso. Now that's tech I can use!
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