When configured with an audible password, Voicelok will not be recognized by a computer even if it’s already plugged in, not until it “hears” the password via its built-in microphone. The phrase has to be 2 to 4 syllables long, but the real password is your own voice. It’s the way you say the password that unlocks the drive. It’s your voice that rouses it from slumber. Your voice brings it to life. Your voice makes it believe it can love again. What?

But obviously you still don’t want to say the password aloud when you’re in a crowded place. You’re just alerting spies and ninjas that you have top secret data and a high tech flash drive. Here’s where the secondary color-coded input comes in. Voicelok has two switches that toggle two LEDs, one red and one green. I think it’s even more secure than the voice password. Watch the video below to see what I mean.

Hammacher Schlemmer is selling the 8GB Voicelok USB drive for $50 (USD), but I guess inconvenience is the real price for added security. That confounding initial setup would drain my patience. Then again, I don’t have top secret data to protect. But that’s just what I would say if I did have top secret data. Does that mean I do have top secret data? Is it so important that even I don’t know about it? But that’s just what I would say if I did have top secret data and do know that I have it. Wait. So do I have top secret data or not? Aaaaargh…

[via Voicelok & Bonjour Life]

The patch will add support for over 200 voice commands on Xbox 360 version of the game using the Kinect. The most awesome part is that those commands will include dragon shouts such as FUS RO DAH. Yes, prepare anyone who lives in the home with you now before this patch lands or they will think you are crazy.

The voice commands will also support all sorts of other features including hotkey options, follower and menu commands. There will be other features added an update as well. But, let’s be honest, you’re not paying attention anymore, you’re probably running around the house screaming FUS RO DAH!

[via Gamespot]

Someone once said, “Where there’s a Will Powell, there’s a cheap version of the Project Glass headset,” and boy was Someone right. Programmer and IT director Will Powell claims to have built a rough copy of the augmented reality headset. Powell’s device uses a pair of Vuzix eyewear, which are basically wearable monitors, along with HD webcams, a headset, and a custom Adobe AIR program that he wrote. He used Nuance’s Dragon Naturally Speaking program for the voice recognition and Yahoo! weather services for the weather info.

A significant number of comments on the video are chastising Powell, using enlightening, well-constructed arguments like “fake fake fake” and “Why would you share with everyone a picture of a magazine?” While those are pretty convincing points, I think I’ll wait for Powell to back up his demo video with a more technical details. I’m sure he’ll do it, because he wants to win the approval of anonymous lay people.

[Will Powell via Make:]

I can’t overstate how amazing this program is, especially considering its still in closed beta. The fact that it can open and use the apps and modify the settings in the tablet used in the demo below makes it infinitely more useful than Siri, which can only interact with Apple’s native apps and Wolfram Alpha. For example, in the demo video below Utter! opens Cut the Rope, adjusts the tablet’s CPU and opens the eBay app to search. And then, just to show how smart it is, Brandall intentionally froze the eBay app and repeated his eBay command. Upon detecting that the eBay app was unavailable, Utter! used the browser to search eBay’s website.

Utter! is also less talkative, but it does have a lot of things to say when prompted. For example, at about 7:15 into the video you’ll hear it’s Easter eggs, including a rather harsh remark about Siri at about 9:15. But that’s not all – at around the 18:00 mark, Brandall reveals that Utter! can actually start conversations. How’s that for high tech?

It may just be because my brain is still coagulating itself back together after being blown to bits by that demo, but I think that after touch-based interfaces, seamless and effortless interaction by voice will be the next major step for mobile devices. It’s simply more natural and faster to use. Talk to you soon Utter!

[via Phandroid via Ubergizmo]

Aside from the display, the microphone used to pick up speech is also mounted on the eyepiece. The mic sends data to the small computer, which is meant to be worn on a user’s waist. The computer then sends the data to the remote server, which takes care of the heavy stuff, converting speech to text and finally translating. Then the translated text is sent back to the computer, and finally displayed in the eyepiece. The text is displayed on the user’s peripheral vision, so you won’t go wall-eyed trying to read the translation.

…or so goes NEC’s big plan. Currently the system’s translating capability is not be good enough for real world application, so for now the device is being promoted as a convenient means of looking at user manuals or guides for engineers or technicians to use while their working on something. And since it can receive data from a remote server, the Tele Scouter can also be used to send instructions to several personnel all at once, in real time.

NEC will begin selling Tele Scouter systems next year. I don’t know if it will be fully functional by then, but even if it did it’s not like we’ll be able to afford it: a set-up good enough for 30 users will cost ¥750 million (approx. $8.3 million USD).

[via gizmag]

Mundie’s sample office setting eschewed the keyboard, mouse and even the monitor. His desk was a multi-touch surface computer, and the walls were monitors as well, capable of displaying “a virtual window or collection of digital photos to a corkboard of sticky notes or various workspaces.” That’s nice, except I hope that in the future we’ll still have real views and not “virtual windows”. Mundie also showcased a Project Natal-like tech, wherein he put himself in the middle of an architectural demo. Imagine being able to see and walk through a life-size model of your house before it’s actually built. The future is going to be awesome. To those who can afford it anyway.

[via Crave UK]

Aibelive’s AITALK controller snaps onto the bottom of iPods, and provides complete voice control, letting you search for song, artist or album with the dulcet tones of your voicebox.

Aibelive claims their technology is 90% accurate (does this it’ll play the wrong song 10% of the time?) Their voice recognition system is speaker-independent, and can understand 17 different languages. The photo below shows all of the available commands you can kick off with the press of AITALK’s voice control button.

I’m not quite sure what’s up with that “reference song list,” but I can say with confidence that I have 0.0% of these tracks on my iPod.

There’s no word on a release date yet, but word on the street is that the AITALK will retail come first to North America, and retail for appx. $85 (USD).

[AITALK via AVING and Engadget China]

Unlike Nintendo’s Wii-mote, the Project Natal (pronounced “na-tall”) sensor box can detect movements of your entire body, and can also recognize voices. The compact device will mount above or below your television set and has an RGB camera, depth sensor and multi-array microphones to detect movements and voices around your room.

From the looks of Microsoft’s demo footage shown today, the system aims to significantly improve on the basic gesture control found in devices like Sony’s EyeToy. There’s also full gesture control for interactive with menus without the need for a controller.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Project Natal’s cameras can even detect faces and scan objects in real time and inject them directly into the games you’re playing. This concept footage should give you a pretty good idea of where Microsoft wants to go with Natal:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

While most of the demo footage shown was for more traditional fare like fighters, racing and sports games, one standout was Peter Molyneux’s “Milo”.

Milo is sort of like a modern-day take on Seaman, but with a boy who can respond to your emotions, voice, facial expressions  and movements.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Cool stuff, but a little bit creepy. We may have officially crossed into the Uncanny Valley. Keep in mind that all of the tech demos and video footage shown at this point are only conceptual, and the features and functionality of the final product could (and probably will) change.

Microsoft hasn’t announced a release target for Project Natal, but if they manage to work out all the kinks, I’m hoping we could see the system as early as the 2009 holiday season. On the other hand, we could be waiting until some time in 2010. Stay tuned for more details.

[Project Natal for Xbox 360]

Modder Jonathan Berg put together this Wall-E PC mod that comes complete with a 7-inch touchscreen monitor inside his belly.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Wall-E is made from custom cut Plexiglas, arms made from Logitech speakers, and webcam hidden behind his eyes. He’s even been outfitted with voice recognition software which lets his master command him by barking orders -  in case his touchscreen and laser keyboard aren’t sufficient.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

At least his compactor module isn’t activated, or else that monitor would most certainly be crushed into smithereens.