Don't read too much into someone winking at you in Japan - a researcher says he has developed a system that will soon let people run their iPods with the flick of an eye.
The system, comprising a single-chip computer and a couple of infrared sensors, monitors movements of the temple and is so tiny that it can be built into the side of a pair of eyeglasses.
Closing both eyes for one second starts an iPod, while blinking again stops the machine. A wink with the right eye makes the machine skip to the next tune while with a wink of the left eye it goes back.
As a person does not have to move either hand, the system can serve as a "third hand" for caregivers, rock-climbers, motorbike drivers and astronauts, as well as people with disabilities.
"You don't have to worry about the system moving incorrectly as it picks up signals when you close your eyes firmly. You can use this when you're eating or chatting with someone," said the device's developer, Kazuhiro Taniguchi.
The system - dubbed "Kome Kami Switch," or "Temple Switch" - can easily differentiate a deliberate one-second wink from natural blinking, said Taniguchi, a researcher at state-run Osaka University's Graduate School of Engineering Science.
"Normally you blink in an energy-saving manner, very quickly and lightly, but you would close your eyes more firmly to operate a device," he said.
The system can be programmed to accept a rapid double blink for those who can't wink.
The Kome Kami Switch is also capable of operating television sets, air conditioners, room lighting and other household electronics.
Taniguchi hopes the system can eventually be adapted to run cellphones, wheelchairs and robots as "an ultimate remote control" used in everyday life.(AFP)
Tim: I've decided I'm going to get one of those new wink operated music sytems as soon as they come out.
Sarah: Really?
Tim: Yes, I love to keep up with the times.
Sarah: I'm more of a stick in the mud myself.
Tim: I know. I can tell by your CD Walkman!
Sarah: Hey! At least I use an electric toothbrush.
提姆：我決定了，等那個新的眨眼音控系統一上市，我就要去買一套。
莎拉：真的嗎？
提姆：沒錯，我喜歡追隨流行。
莎拉：我個人倒是比較守舊。
提姆：我知道，從你的CD隨身聽就看得出來了！
莎拉：嘿！至少我用的是電動牙刷。
stick in the mud 守舊的、保守的
A stick in the mud is someone who doesn't like change or new ways of doing things.
「stick in the mud」是指不喜歡改變或用新的方法做事的人。
在日本如果有人向你眨眼，你可別會錯意了，因為一位研究人員表示，他已研發出一套系統，不久後就能讓人靠著眨眼操作iPod。
該系統由一個單晶片電腦和數個紅外線感應器組成，由於體積極小，它能裝在眼鏡腳架內，以監測太陽穴的運動。
只要雙眼合閉一秒鐘就可以啟動iPod，再眨眼一次即可關機；右眼眨一下可以跳至下一曲，左眼眨一下則可以回到上一曲。
讓人無需動手即可操作，該系統形同是看護、攀岩者、機車騎士、太空人和其他身障人士的「第三隻手」。
這套儀器的發明人谷口和弘說：「你不用擔心系統會誤下指令，因為系統在你緊閉雙眼時才會感應訊號。無論是吃飯或與他人交談時，皆可以使用。」
國立大阪大學工程科學所研究員谷口表示，名為「太陽穴開關」的這套系統，能夠輕易分辨自然眨眼和刻意眨眼一秒的差別。
他說：「人們眨眼通常是非常輕快不費力的，但你若要啟動裝置，則需用力閉上雙眼。」
這套系統還特別為了那些無法正常眨眼的人，設計了可接受快速眨眼兩次的程式指令。
「太陽穴開關」也能控制電視、冷氣、室內燈光和其他家用電器。
谷口希望該系統最終能適用於手機、輪椅和機器人，作為人類日常生活中的「終極遙控器」。
（法新社／翻譯：袁星塵）
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