Imagine this scenario: You're learning how to make DIY
(do-it-yourself) robot with the help of video tutorial on YouTube. At one point,
unfortunately you are missing one step of the tutorial, surely you have to
re-look at the missing part, but your hands are busy soldering the circuit
board.
The second scenario: you are preparing delicious meals for
the family. Your hands are busy kneading the dough you are preparing. However, you
have to go to the next page of the digital recipe on your tablet.
In the two scenarios above, the point is you have to put one
of the tools you hold to be able to navigate your laptop or tablet.
To overcome this problem, MIT Media Lab. creates NailO, a
mini device that will transform your thumbnail into a wireless trackpad. NailO
is actually a fake nail that has been planted with a number of electronic
components. It consists of four layers: battery, circuit board, sensors and
nail art sticker. Simply put, NailO is not only functional, but also pays
attention to aesthetic.
In the first prototype, the NailO circuit board is equipped
with three important components: microcontroller, capacitive controller chip
and Bluetooth LE chip. With the help of 10mAh lithium-polymer battery, the
NailO prototype can transmit the input data wirelessly for at least two hours.
To navigate the laptop, tablet, or smartphone using the
NailO, there are a number of gestures that can be applied by the user by the
help of index finger. Press to select objects, swipe left/right or up/down for
scrolling, and then there is also a multi-finger gesture with a variety of
functions.
Actually there are many scenarios where NailO can be very
useful, one of which is as an additional input media when you are typing the
smartphone; type as usual using the right thumb, then input the punctuation or
emoticons via swipe motion on NailO that's mounted on the left thumb.
NailO developer reportedly has been holding a battery
manufacturer from China to enhance the prototype through a tiny battery which
only half a millimeter thick. CNET reported that NailO commercialization phase
is estimated to take place within a period of three years.