Interface

In the real world, you wouldn't want to carry a controller all the time, or have menus popping up in front of your face – so why put up with those things in VR worlds? With EgoTouch you don't have to, as it puts an interface on the palm of your hand.

Human-machine interfaces such as phone screens would be a lot cleaner and longer-lasting if we didn't have to touch them. Scientists have now created a proximity-sensing film which makes such a scenario more possible and practical than ever before.

Vienna's Austrian Audio has announced a pocket recording system designed to capture "what you want, where you want, and when you want." The MiCreator Studio wraps a tilting condenser microphone and a USB audio interface into one rugged package.

Using touchscreens or buttons to control devices isn't always practical, and voice commands may not work in loud environments. A new system offers an alternative, in that it utilizes acoustic waves which travel across the surface of existing objects.

There are numerous devices available to connect a guitar to a computer or smartphone for recording in music production software, and many allow access to digital effects. The Jam X includes an analog compressor for built-in tone shaping.

IK Multimedia's iRig range has included microphones and audio interfaces in the past, but now the company is looking to make life easier for musicians, live bloggers, podcasters and creators with one device that combines the two.

Intel has demonstrated a prototype of the next generation of its Thunderbolt interface. The new connection will be up to three times faster than the existing Thunderbolt 4 – at up to 120 Gbps – when it debuts next year.

IK Multimedia has added something of a Swiss Army knife audio interface to its iRig line. The 4-in/2-out Pro Quattro I/O is aimed at musicians and digital content creators, and promises broadcast quality results in the studio or out in the field.

Toward the end of 2020, David Li collaborated with Google Arts and Culture on a machine learning experiment called the Blob Opera. Now Stuck Labs has developed a touchless interface that allows children to control the operatic action using gestures.

The coronavirus pandemic has seen many musicians heading online to perform. But latency issues can make rocking out with bandmates over an internet connection somewhat problematic. Sweden's Elk Audio is aiming to nip lag in the bud with Elk Live.

In order for a thief to bypass a security system's interface, they generally have to see that interface in the first place. That's why Swiss scientists have designed an access code keypad which is completely transparent.

Audio gear maker M-Audio has launched two USB interfaces geared at folks who are looking to break into computer-based recording, podcasting, live streaming and more, without emptying their bank accounts.