TechRadar UK
This week’s CEATEC technology show just outside Tokyo is home to not just the latest mainstream gadgets, but also some of the weirdest tech you’ll ever come across. In the latter category we have a mobile phone application that is supposed to let users see through walls.

Sensors galore

The ‘Real Space See-through Mobile’ software comes from KDDI’s R&D laboratory and Tokyo University and is – you’ll not be surprised to learn – still just a prototype. Although we weren’t able to see it in action, we can tell you that it is supposed to be able to judge its surroundings, including those on the other side of a wall, using six different sensors.

Graphical render

Three acceleration sensors combine with a similar number of geomagnetic sensors and a GPS chip to work out exactly where the phone is and in what direction it’s pointing. Using some sort of digital voodoo, the software then uses OpenGL to draw on the screen what it has ‘sensed’ is in the immediate surroundings.

Calorie counter

Better yet (we think), it also has the ability to work out whether the user is walking, running or in a vehicle and calculate calories burned in doing so. We’re told it even uses the phone’s microphone to work that one out, although quite why the engineers bothered, we’re still pretty much clueless.

Nuff said.




  1. Mac Guy says:

    Better yet, can it see through clothing?

  2. The Monster's Lawyer says:

    If all this is true then it’s better than Horny Goat Weed.

  3. Angel H. Wong says:

    And then you’ll see these new features on the next version of the iPhone.. For a monthly $29.99 fee of course.

  4. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……

    I’m still waiting for the Holy Grail of mobile telephony: A PHONE THAT CAN MAKE AND RECEIVE CALLS RELIABLY.

    And I’m not holding my breath.

    Cell phones have been around since 1915 (commercially viable since 1978), and they STILL work like shit.

    They may slice, dice, play music, take movies and X-rays, let young girls text and IM each other, and serve as a vibrator for the lonely spinster, but the core functionality (making and receiving calls) still sucks donkey dick.

  5. smartalix says:

    It’s a tricorder!

  6. admfubar says:

    points phone at body….. shouts “He’s dead Jim”….

  7. Neumann says:

    Batman baby, BATMAN! It’s all coming true!

  8. sexray says:

    Works as well as those x-ray glasses advertised
    in 60’s comic books.

    What’s up with the B.S. meter?
    Detect yes.
    But amplify? On this planet, in 2008 AD , do
    you really need to amplify the B.S. to detect it!

  9. James Hill says:

    #3 – Apple worship noted.

    #4 – Lack of tech knowledge noted.

  10. #9 – Jimbo

    >>#4 – Lack of tech knowledge noted.

    Talk about a pot/ kettle situation! You surely can’t be claiming that YOU have technical knowledge? Haw! HAW HAW!!!!

    Well, maybe about my “vibrator” comment. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that you have a world-class collection.


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