The premise behind their research is that as mobile devices such as phones and MP3 players become ever smaller, so too do their buttons and screens. This means that whilst portability may be improving, usability can sometimes begin to suffer, and this has lead researchers to seek alternative ways to interact with these systems.

Chris Harrison, who is heading up the project, explained: “Devices […] can now be easily carried on our bodies. However, their small size typically leads to limited interaction space - diminutive screens, buttons, and jog wheels - and consequently diminishes their usability and functionality.”

"Appropriating the human body as an input device is appealing not only because we have roughly two square meters of external surface area, but also because much of it is easily accessible by our hands."

Chris Harrison
Researcher - Carnegie Mellon University

‘Skinput’ uses the body as an input device

The project has been named ‘Skinput’ - well what else could they call it? - and it aims to use our skin like a map laying out pressure point zones. The technology works via a bracelet fitted to a bicep which interprets the user’s actions through frequencies that are transmitted when the zone is touched.

This information is then sent to the connected peripheral, such as a mobile phone, an iPod or any other mobile device, so by tapping on different areas of the arm and hand users can scroll through menus and select options.

On his website, Harrison writes: “Appropriating the human body as an input device is appealing not only because we have roughly two square meters of external surface area, but also because much of it is easily accessible by our hands (e.g., arms, upper legs, and torso).

“Furthermore, proprioception (our sense of how our body is configured in three-dimensional space) allows us to accurately interact with our bodies in an eyes-free manner. For example, we can readily flick each of our fingers, touch the tip of our nose, and clap our hands together without visual assistance. Few external input devices can claim this accurate, eyes-free input characteristic and provide such a large interaction area.”

Click here to view Chris Harrison’s presentation of Skinput on YouTube.