Kazuhiro Taniguchi, chief researcher at Osaka University’s Graduate School of Engineering Science, “When you’re sick and you’ve caught a cold and you are sneezing, the data can be sent by email to your family living in a distant location saying that: “I’ve caught a cold”. The gizmo - called the "Ear Switch" is connected to a micro-computer that can control electronic devices, essentially making it a hands-free remote for any appliance from an air conditioner to a computer. Kazuhiro Taniguchi, chief researcher at Osaka University's Graduate School of Engineering Science, “This can also be used by people with disabilities. Even without using your hands you can operate various things.” But don’t rush to the shops just yet. The ear switch is not expected to be on sale for at least two years. In the meantime that just might save us from accidentally offending someone while trying to hit rewind.