Google Have Prototyped Star Trek Communicator Badge
As if the last few days haven’t cemented the fact that Google employs plenty of geeks, this will definitely confirm it. Google Senior VP Amit Singhal recently showed off a wicked little prototype device based on the Star Trek communicator.
The lapel pin similar to the ones that were originally introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation is activated with a tap to place calls or do voice searches. It is still in the testing phases however, and is not for sale just yet.
The technology behind it is relatively simple; it is a Bluetooth device that tethers to a phone. A tap will wake it up so you can issue voice commands using the built-in microphone and a small speaker.
The creation of this com-badge is more a labour of love than a stab at a real product. Singhal said that he always wanted a com-badge, so why not design one at Google and see how it worked.
Google isn’t the first to have come up with such an idea with actual products on the market that more than resemble the original communicator badge. But this is an interesting note from Google as it has come a long way from being a simple search engine.
