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Fashion: Body Modification: Face
Extra Face Muscles   (+18, -3)  [vote for, against]
Use an extreme expression on demand.

I heard abouth this material that expands and contract via an electric charge.

talking about it being used to replace muscles

This idea would be the dollar store version. ultra small form factor, stick these to your face set up an extreme expression that you can use to freak people out. trigger at will
-- vfrackis, Apr 12 2009

Electric stimulus to face test http://www.youtube....ure=player_embedded
You don't need extra "muscle wire" to freak people out, actually. [jutta, Nov 30 2009]

It'd be tough to improve on this guy http://www.youtube....watch?v=cmid-HeNWz4
[swimswim, Nov 30 2009]

conducting polymer artificial muscles http://cat.inist.fr...cheN&cpsidt=3162960
here you go WP [vfrackis, Dec 05 2009]

conductive polymer http://faculty.chem...personnel_id=113194
this one has some images [vfrackis, Dec 05 2009]

Automatic Expressions Automatic_20Expressions
Similar, and mine. [Giblet, Dec 06 2009]

finally, a confused bitter-sweat expression that matches my heart.
-- wjt, Apr 12 2009


Why not just use cadaver muscle, attach it in odd configurations, and train to trigger it. "I heard about this material" ?
-- normzone, Apr 12 2009


I like it, very much. People are very attuned to perceiving movements of the actual facial muscles, even a minor difference (as a lack in stroke patients) is readily perceptible. An extra pair should quite effectively freak people the heck out.
-- GutPunchLullabies, Apr 13 2009


Sometimes I think I'm smiling when in fact I'm not. It seems I have a slightly optimistic assessment of my own facial expressions. I'd love to use this to force a real warm smile when appropriate.
-- PauloSargaco, Apr 13 2009


Terry Pratchett's "Making Money" features a hidden clockwork eyebrow manipulator.
-- Aristotle, Apr 14 2009


//Sometimes I think I'm smiling when in fact I'm not. It seems I have a slightly optimistic assessment of my own facial expressions. I'd love to use this to force a real warm smile when appropriate.//

It's all in the eyes. Genuine smiles (or professionally faked smiles) involve a number of eye muscles and forehead muscles. Your whole face lifts up, basically, not just your lips. I don't know, google it. But you can teach yourself to do it, and people will think you're way warmer than you are. It works beautifully.
-- Smurfsahoy, Apr 14 2009


[Smurfsahoy] Following your indications I tried it in front of a mirror. I'm afraid to look in the mirror now.
-- PauloSargaco, Apr 14 2009


I'm all smiles. Dammit! +
-- blissmiss, Apr 15 2009


You can use the "geektocool 3000" to control it.
-- methinksnot, Apr 16 2009


[movie reference]But can I get some that make me look like Robert Picardo with a different hairstyle?[/mr]
-- RayfordSteele, May 05 2009


Skip the mechanical element. Charles Darwin's _The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals_ has photographs of human subjects whose facial muscles he stimulated electrically, to produce expressions of horror, hatred, contempt, disgust, and so on. Technology available to Darwin in the 1890s should be in the dollar-store price range, by now, no?
-- mouseposture, Nov 30 2009


Yeah - some electodes (skin coloured), taped to the skin and concealed with make-up would be better. The general concept remains valid though.
-- wagster, Nov 30 2009


// Technology available to Darwin in the 1890s should be in the dollar-store price range, by now //

No. In those days it was a popular parlour game for people to electrocute each others' facial muscles at parties - the Gay 'Nineties equivalent of a fondue set. Any hostess worth her salt would have a hand- cranked Ladies' Folding Face Galvaniser at her disposal, or she'd be risking social death. It's all about economies of scale.
-- nineteenthly, Nov 30 2009


<watches link>

You guys always bring me the very best links.
-- theleopard, Nov 30 2009


[Jutta] Google-fu like that is great gift. Be sure you always use it for Good.
-- mouseposture, Dec 02 2009


There are all sorts of little muscles in the face. Some are ones we barely use - like the ear ones or the platysma. They are tough to contract individually. A system to contract them in patterns not physiologically possible for most humans could generate expressions never before seen on human faces. Who knows what these expressions might connote? It would be like discovering a new color. Heady stuff, so to speak.
-- bungston, Dec 02 2009


What is the new idea, here, [vfrackis]?

Putting these electrodes on the outside of your face is asinine. How will muscle mimetic electrodes effect your face differently than the gazillion different ideas already used by, mostly, the former Soviet bloc?

And why the muscle contraction angle? Contracting an "artificial" muscle outside your skin, has no bearing on what's under. (You don't need artificial muscles, any electrical impulses will work.)

You mentioned not only contracting, but expanding. I've never heard of that, [vfrackis], please put up a link.

What is the new idea, here, [vfrackis]?
-- Wily Peyote, Dec 04 2009


its a new use for a new material

the purpose is: use an extreme facial expression whenever you like.

and why not?
-- vfrackis, Dec 05 2009


(-) On its face this idea is shockingly myo-opic.
-- leinypoo13, Dec 06 2009


The possibility of a malfunction could make or break you. It's gotta be fail-safe to be of surface value as a misery filled snarl could ruin a wonderfully achieved orgasm, or....

...dayrl microwavin his pizza pocket at 2:10 am in room 216. In 217 carlie and smooch is goin at it with no end in sight when daryl nex door starts stabbin at buttons in a panic trying to stop the beepin on his meal. Synapse befuddlin' levels o' electromagnetic radiation spill from the battered unhinged door of the 1969 radarrange into daryl's brain and through the wall into carlie's electrically stimulated facial implants sending smooch in to paryoxyms of rage. "You laughin at me? You laughin at me?!!!!!!! (go right ahead with deniro's voice over if you must) I'll show you sum funny ******* hideous expletives deleted ******"

You have to consider all possible outcomes with an invention like this.
-- outloud, Dec 06 2009



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