IBM's Everywhere Displays Project

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.research.ibm.com/ed/' target='_blank'>http://www.research.ibm.com/ed/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The Everywhere Displays project aims to develop systems that allow the transformation of every surface in a space into a projected "touch screen". We are developing a prototype where we combine a LCD projector, a pan/tilt mirror, and a camera. The mirror is used to deflect the image of the projector to surfaces, walls, or the floor of a room. We process the projected image to compensate for the perspective distortion. We employ a pan/tilt video camera to detect hand/body activity on the projected area, so people can interact with the projected image by simply touching the surface."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20041103-IBMEverywhereDisplays.jpg" /><br /><br />I have to admit, when I first read this I immediately imagined a wall-sized projection of my Pocket PC, and me gesturing wildly to launch my PIM or browsing apps. :oops: :lol: Nevertheless, it's very cool stuff and might be able to revolutionize computer-based presentations, amongst other things. Unfortunately, the site hasn't been updated recently; I hope they're still working on it.

[bjornkeizers]

It sounds a bit like that laser keyboard. How would controlling it work? If it's projected, you wouldn't be able to stand in front of it.. and what if I want to hit a button in the middle of the screen? My arm would be covering another button probably....

It sounds cool, but I doubt it's very practical.

[OSUKid7]

It sounds a bit like that laser keyboard. How would controlling it work? If it's projected, you wouldn't be able to stand in front of it.. and what if I want to hit a button in the middle of the screen? My arm would be covering another button probably....
http://www.research.ibm.com/ed/photos/sig%20picking%20a%20color.jpg
Seems to work fine there. :)

Interesting idea. Different, but interesting.

[SteveHoward999]

I have a video of a similar system in use ... could be the same one. The video came from the Macromedia Flash Pocket PC resource kit and runs great on a PPC. The system looks incredible, allowing you to drag documents from your laptop 'desktop' onto the actual desktop beside you ... then you can use it to zoom into the content on the desktop.

[Jonathan1]

One word: holodeck. :rock on dude!:

[Ryan Joseph]

One word: holodeck. :rock on dude!:

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking! Being able to interact with projections sounds awesome! Imagine something like this in your kitchen...recipes projected onto the wall where you can advance through the steps and see images and videos of the dish being prepared.

Or in a public place like a museum. Visitors could interact with displays without actually touching the screen. Have you ever seen those touchscreens in public places? They're destroyed from so many hands playing with them. This could completely solve that problem!

I can't wait to see more practical applications of this!

[gry]

I'm sure that the foundation for this technology are camera devices like the Sony Eye Toy:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009YEK0/ref=wl_it_dp/104-1805469-0080759?%5Fencoding=UTF8&amp;coliid=I1RWF7YBIU3WHW&amp;v=glance&amp;colid=246RWHJTP8ZYJ

It's surprisingly accurate.

[stephman]

One word: holodeck. :rock on dude!:
Nice! I was leaning more towards "Minority Report" Reading the article reminding me of the interactive screen Tom Cruz used in that movie.

[maximus]

If this is realized, we will be able to play Farcry and Quake 3 in 3D.
Imagine that. It is pitch dark, on a long alley, suddenly a trigen ambushed you out of nowhere, jumping around 10 feets in the air .. Ultra cool ! :)