Now ’ear this: Smart headphones dispense with need for buttons

London – Pressing the ‘play’ button could be a thing of the past with the introduction of a new set of intelligent headphones that use motion-activated technology to function. The new SensMe headphones by Sony operate through users’ movements and contacts with the skin – users put both ear pieces into their ears to start playing music, and remove one to pause. The technology, similar to that used in touch-screen computing, senses only skin contact, so the headphones won’t start playing when they rub against a surface in a bag or pocket. Keeping controls intuitive and convenient, the SensMe headphones signal the end of having to fumble awkwardly for the controls on a portable music player.