This week we have just returned from Siggraph Asia and I wanted to share a really odd side of Siggraph: The Emerging Technology exhibits. This is weird science, actually this is often just weird. I am not sure what the criteria for getting into the Emerging Tech exhibition exactly is, but I suspect it involves non-commercial applicability. Don’t get me wrong – I love these guys, every show – no matter how busy I am – I visit. I am never disappointment. It is like free speech – I may not agree with your point of view but I will fight for your right to put headphones on me and freak me out. This year there were flocking robots, that herded visitors in a pen, 3D holograms of rabbits in gas, mirrors that superimposed a matching animated horse head over yours, and inappropriate food noises. (As I said, all of them somewhat failing on the “ready for mass marketing” tag). The last of these involved demonstrating that you eat with your ears. And you know they were right!
The team had a plate of various food, and a complex headset that included both headphones and a jaw sensor. As you placed various food samples in your mouth – such as a jelly baby candy- the kit sensed your chewing. As you byte down, you hear the jelly babies sort of screaming. As you eat crackers you hear squelching. It is stunning how this affects your sense of taste.
I said it weird. But bloody marvelous, I can’t wait to see what they have next year.