Researchers at the University of Michigan are taking a cue from Apple to create a pressure sensitive phone. Their software, ForcePhone, relies on a device’s built-in microphone and speaker. With this software installed, the phone’s speaker constantly emits a sound at a frequency of 18 kHz. This is inaudible to human ears, but not dogs’. Poor dogs. Whenever a user squeezes the phone or presses down on it, the tone of that sounds changes and the microphone recognizes it. It then translates that change into a command.
Squeeze your phone to annoy your dog
And maybe send text messages or play games
And maybe send text messages or play games
The researchers believe their work could allow cheaper phones to be pressure-sensitive because they wouldn’t require extra sensors. Maybe someday soon we’ll be giving our phones hand hugs.
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