The beauty of AI is that it can be used for a lot of applications. It's one of the reasons why despite its setbacks, experts in the field still wish to see it be advanced. Microsoft found a way to use the technology to assist people in their day-to-day tasks by integrating AI into a smart backpack.
Microsoft's AI Backpack Approved
The tech giant's innovative device has to go through a lot of hoops before it is commercially distributed to consumers. In May 2023, Microsoft filed the patent for its AI-powered backpack, but it wasn't until recently that it was approved for public feedback.
Although you already have a smartphone that serves as a digital assistant you can carry around, the smart backpacks offer other functions that make it so much easier to navigate through your surroundings, especially since it uses AI.
The backpack is equipped with a camera, microphone, speaker, network interface, processor, and storage, which makes it somewhat of a computer assistant. Through the device, you can identify objects in your area, as well as access information through the network.
Microsoft says that digital assistants are becoming more versatile due to advancements in computing, as reported by Interesting Engineering. With the smart backpack, users can perform daily tasks with a bit more convenience.
After it hears the command of its user, it automatically senses the surroundings using various sensors. The data will then be sent to an AI engine to be processed, and the information will be relayed back to the wearer of the device.
According to Microsoft, there aren't many smart backpacks with AI in the market right now. Although there's not much information about the bag yet, the company plans to introduce the device at a September launch event.
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What Can It Do?
Given that Microsoft's AI-powered backpack has input and output factors like a camera, a speaker, and a microphone, it opens up a lot of possibilities for the device. For instance, it can accompany you to the grocery store and tell you the prices of the items.
It specifies the items and tells you whether they are at a discounted price. In addition to that, the backpack can also tell you its previous prices as well as how much it costs in other stores, which could help with cost-cutting measures.
Users can bring the backpack to certain activities like skiing, wherein they can ask if it's possible to head in certain directions. Through the camera, the background will scan the surroundings and tell the user if it's out of bounds, according to MSPowerUser.
By standing in front of a concert poster, you can ask the backpack to add a reminder to your calendar and attend that particular event. This makes the backpack a hand-free assistant with the help of artificial intelligence.
This is a leap forward for technology that can assist people with disabilities. For the visually and hearing impaired, the backpack can serve as both eyes and ears through its camera and microphone. It helps that the device can also be context-aware.
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