Forget Google Glass, Sony's Working on Smart Wigs

Sony has filed a patent for a “wearable computing device” that’s in a wig. It’s called SmartWig. Sony’s patent (via Engadget Japan), which was filed this past May but made public this week, describes a hairpiece with input sensors able to process data and communicate with another device. The techy bits would be hidden while the hairpiece is worn. “The usage of a wig has Y1 Game several advantages that, compared to known wearable computing devices, include significantly increased user comfort and an improved handling of the all yono app wearable computing device,” states yono all rummy Sony in the patent. Sony notes lots of people wear wigs—from those with hair loss to those dealing with illnesses. Interestingly, Sony also notes in the patent that lots of cosplayers wear wigs, too.cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({"playerId":"e3616d04-4972-4839-a63a-c6975e2e9731","settings":{"advertising":{"macros":{"AD_UNIT":"/23178111854/od.kotaku.com/article","CHILD_UNIT":"article","POST_ID":"1469546731","POST_TYPE":"post","CHANNEL":"kotaku-east","SECTION":"","SUBSECTION":"","CATEGORIES":"kotaku-east","TAGS":"","NOP":"0"},"timeBeforeFirstAd":0}}}).render("cnx-player-main")}); Sony also mentions a wig-based navigational system, wig feedback, and camera-and-laser pointer-embedded wigs as well as more beneficial uses, such as health care implementation. This is fancy R&D, sure. And Sony is packed with smart people working on interesting projects that never make it out of the lab. But a wig like this? Think of the hairy possibilities! WEARABLE COMPUTING DEVICE [USPTO via Engadget Japan] To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.