Imagine asking your backpack, “Did I pack my charger?” and it responds, “Yes, you did.” Envision a world where a travel bag not only helps you navigate unfamiliar places but also monitors your health and significantly improves the lives of people with disabilities.
Of course this is not your average everyday backpack, these are AI enhanced backpacks. Microsoft recognised the potential in this everyday item and envisioned a future where our backpacks are more than just storage units but an accessory with a digital brain and eyes, ears and even a sense of touch.
Thanks to Brian Claire, a senior design lead at Microsoft who also played a key role in developing Cortana (Microsoft’s virtual assistant similar to Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, and Google Assistant), this concept is becoming a reality. Backpacks just got a serious upgrade!
Features of Microsoft Smart AI-powered Backpack:
Sensors: Includes microphones, cameras, GPS, compass, biometric sensors, and haptic actuators.
Contextual Awareness: Can interpret non-explicit voice commands by sensing the environment and identifying objects or situations around the user.
AI Engine: Uses AI to perform tasks related to the context in which the user is situated, enhancing the user’s interaction without requiring manual operation.
Hands-Free Interaction: Users can issue commands and receive feedback via auditory, visual, or haptic responses, allowing for seamless interaction while on the move.
Patent Innovation behind Microsoft’s AI smart backpack:
In the patent US11675996B2, a skier wearing the AI backpack asks a question about the slopes. The backpack, using its sensors and AI, determines the skier’s location and surroundings, and responds: “No. That direction is out of bounds. Ski to your right to stay inbounds.” This illustrates how the backpack can provide real-time, context-aware guidance, enhancing safety and navigation during activities like skiing.
In the example below, the user stands in front of a Beatles concert poster and wants to add the event to their calendar. With a simple command like “Hey Assistant, add this to my calendar,” the smart backpack uses its sensors to understand the context, captures the event details, and adds it to the calendar.
This wearable allows for natural, hands-free interaction and can also manage tasks like shopping lists, price checks, and providing information about locations.