Project Telepathy: Targeted Verbal Communication using 3D Beamforming Speakers and Facial Electromyography Anne-Claire Bourland, Peter Gorman, Jess McIntosh, Asier Marzo CHI’17: ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Late-Breaking Work Abstract: Speech is our innate way of communication. However, it has limitation such as being a broadcast process, it has limited reach and it only works in air. Here, we explore the combination of two technologies for realizing natural targeted communication with potential applications in coordination of tasks or private conversations. For detecting words, we measure the bioelectric signals produced by facial muscles during speech. An electromyographic system composed of 4 surface electrodes had an accuracy of 80\\% when discriminating between 10 words. More importantly, the system was equally effective in discriminating spoken and silently mouthed words. For transferring the words, we used the sound-through-ultrasound phenomenon to generate audible sound within a narrow beam. We built a phased array of ultrasonic emitters, capable of emitting sound that can be steered electronically without physically moving the array. Two prototypes that combine detection and transfer of words are presented and their limitations analysed. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3027063.305… WEB: http://chi2017.acm.org/
