The startup Humane unveiled last April a preview of a new technology equipped with artificial intelligence whose ambition is to replace screens.
Could this be the advent of a breakthrough technology? Occasionally from a TED talk which was held last April, the American startup Humane, founded by Apple alumni, made a name for itself by demonstrating an innovative wearable device equipped with artificial intelligence, reports The Verge. Video clips of the presentation were released online after the event, but the full demo is now available on YouTube since May 10.
The accessory, which fits in the palm of a hand, comes in the form of a small black box equipped with a camera, a projector and a speaker. Throughout the 13-minute presentation, Imran Chaudhri, co-founder of Humane, presented several examples of using this technology installed on the front of his jacket.
Towards a screenless world?
At the beginning of the video (1:48), the latter receives a telephone call via the device, which then displays the name of his interlocutor as well as icons which allow him to answer or ignore the call. This without a smartphone: the interface is directly projected into the palm of his hand. In another sequence, the co-founder of Humane pronounces a sentence that the device translates and reproduces orally in another language using the voice of Imran Chaudhri thanks to its artificial intelligence.
Another moment shows that the on-board camera is capable of analyzing a food and restoring its composition while indicating to the user if it contains elements to which he would be allergic. Imran Chaudhri, designer at Apple for more than twenty years, presented the innovation of Humane as an alternative to a world where attention is monopolized by screens. According to him, these, like smartphones or augmented reality glasses, put “an additional barrier between you and the world”.
In fact, the Humane device is designed to be able to do without it. The accessory works autonomously. “You don’t need a smartphone or any other device to use it,” Imran Chaudhri confirmed. If this new technology seems promising, many questions remain and the founder finally gives very little information on the concrete functioning of his tool. However, Humane should communicate more about its product in the coming months.
