Peephole Displays

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://pdabistro.hostsync.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1431&mode=&order=0' target='_blank'>http://pdabistro.hostsync.net/modul...1&mode=&order=0</a><br /><br /></div>This is a very cool research project by a student at Berkeley. Basically, the idea here is to leverage the mobility of a device to enable it to address a bigger amount of real estate. Imagine not only using a stylus with your handheld, but also moving the handheld itself around, almost as if it were a lens on top of a big piece of paper, and the content on the screen shifting appropriately.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/Peephole.jpg" /><br /><br />A little more information is available on the author's <a href="http://www.sims.berkeley.edu/~ping/peep/">website</a>. He had to take down the video due to bandwidth constraints, but there is a mirror in the above-linked PDAbistro article.<br /><br />I'm not sure how practical this is in real life, but the idea of adding another 2 dimensions to a PDA is fascinating to me. Imagine handheld gaming with this kind of ability... so long as there are grips on the sides. ;)

[Rirath]

Can't imagine using that, but it's very clever none the less.

[dean_shan]

How would the mobility factor work on that? Would it work well on the go?

[Peter Foot]

What happens when you are involuntarily moving around, eg on a boat :lol:

Seriously though, its an interesting idea...

[Paparuski]

Thinking out of the box is great!

Alternatively, a socket small scanner linked BT w/ pda could accomplish same thing, but would be an additional hardware.

[renz]

I like it :-)

Think about it ... perhaps the input device for the movement could be a CCD camera (like in the optical mouses.) It could be thumb-operated ... hook this up with NYDITOT Virtual Display and this could be turned into a solution real quick.

... but then ... I also dream about a display that is integrated into my glasses.... :wink:

[GoldKey]

Imagine handheld gaming with this kind of ability... so long as there are grips on the sides. ;)

You could build a BattleZone game where you hold your PDA up in front of you like the and use it like the turret viewfinder in the original arcade game!

[John Cody]

perhaps the input device for the movement could be a CCD camera (like in the optical mouses.)

Exactly, they could put the CCD "eye" on the back of a PDA, so whenever you lay it down on a flat surface and move/skid the PDA around on the flat surface, the display will adjust accordingly. The CCD sensor like in Microsoft's optical mouse would be perfect because it seems to only detect movement right flat up against it's sensor and probably won't "trigger" by the movement of your palm while holding it in your hand.

It could be helpful for browsing full-size webpages, excel spreadsheets, etc - just move the PDA to the location you are interested on the page.

[malcolmsharp]

If it's built in, it could be interesting...

Think about it... it would make for a cool game. One that superimposes itself over 'reality'. Use the PDA to see what is going on in the game words.

Also, combined with a built in camera, it would make a nice HUD. It takes the picture from the camera, and puts an overlay over it in real time.