Upcoming missions to the moon may include as many as 30 people at a time. Since having such a large group talking on a single voice channel is impractical, how can they more efficiently communicate?
Naval scientists in San Diego are exploring answers to that challenge with special gloves that contain -- in each hand -- six of the feedback devices now being used in wireless remotes for the Wii video game system!
The research has many potential Earthly applications. "By using icons they become universal," explains Emily Medina, an engineer at the Navy's Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center in San Diego, California. "We're able to communicate with people who don't speak English. We're able to communicate with people who are perhaps deaf and need American Sign Language. All of a sudden the language barrier is cast aside."