The straw-like user interface (SLUIce, we’ve dubbed it) hit WMMNA last week, but we glanced over it in our zeal to cover gadgets you can actually purchase. Regardless, the SLUIce was developed at the University of Electro-Communications in Tokyo and lets its users experience the sensations of drinking, without any pesky liquid mess. The system works by transmitting pressure changes to the straw, passing along vibrations to the mouth.
Pressure changes and sounds from real-world drinking experiences are recorded and reproduced by the interface. A pressure sensor installed near the straw gathers pressure values, and a small microphone acquires audio data.
Pretty intensive work, considering a flex-straw costs about 2 cents, but they say it could potentially enhance gaming experiences (in games where you drink a lot, natch) and potentially help the elderly and physically challenged.
Project Page [NamiJP via WMMNA]
