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iVirtua Community (UK) have investigated the latest technologies which are being produced in research and development facilities around the UK, some of which are close to production, and others which are already in production, and collated the top 5 future technologies including Microsoft Thinsight, Computer-Mediated Living, VIP Interactive Foil, BT Balance, and Splashpower Wireless Charging.
1: Microsoft Thinsight A super-sensitive multi-touch interface for a computerthat lets you control your PC's applications in true Minority Reportstyle - and even 'paint' on the screen with a regular brush.
Microsoft
Quote:
We’ve been exploring novel application scenarios and interaction techniques for surfaces including ThinSight and the new Surfacecomputer. Application-wise these include VideoPlay, a tangible way ofediting videos on a tabletop, and FamilyArchive, a system which allowsthe input and safe archiving of both digital and physical media, andallows natural interaction with those media. In terms of interactiontechniques we are looking at new ways of detecting and interacting withthe Surface using mobile devices, adding physics to UIs, and revisitingthe classic problem of scale, rotate and translate.
Novel hardware and sensing techniques for interactive systems
Technologies for domains outside the office e.g. the home or public spaces
Mobile UIs and infrastructures
Shahram Izadi wrote:
This project explores a new technique for optical sensing through thinform-factor displays. It allows for detection of fingers and otherphysical objects close to or on the display surface. This essentiallyallows us to turn a regular LCD into a sensing surface that can be usedfor multi-touch and tangible computing applications. We are interestedin both the underlying hardware and software aspects of this approachas well as the interaction techniques and application scenarios itenables.
2: Microsoft Computer-Mediated Living Research, Cambridge The big M's facility for testing how our day-to-day lives can be improved through super-advanced tech.
It encompasses three research groups, each of which emphasises the primacy of the user in the design, development, deployment and evaluation of technology.
Socio-Digital Systems brings a truly interdisciplinary approach to the design of technology for everyday life.
Sensors & Devices provides the hardware innovation necessary to support such designs.
Integrated Systemscombines complementary disciplines to develop new algorithms andtechnologies and design systems that demonstrate the advantage of the integrated approach.
3: VIP Interactive Foil Incredibly thin touch sensitive material that can be placed on shop windows, vending machines and other interactive displays.
Visual Planet
VisualPlanet.biz wrote:
If you are looking to take advantage of the expanding market for through window/glass touch screen applicationsthen the ViP Interactive foil has been designed for you.
Our lightweight touch foil can be applied directly to a window or a glass sheet and then a rear projection screen orLCD can be mounted behind the touch foil to create a through-window/glass touch experience.
The ViP Interactive foil can be mounted using either a permanent or a removable fixing method allowing the touchunit to be moved to another location if required.
The touch foil is ideal for upgrading existing through window rear projection or LCD displays to create a throughwindow touch experience.
There are no external components required with the ViP Interactive foil so the installation is completely safe behindthe window.
4: BT Balance A dinky adapter that adds motion control to your laptop, letting you take control your apps by tilting or jogging the entire machine.
"We also wanted to create an interface that was simple and intuitive.Standard ways of controlling PC applications can be too complicated, sowe decided to use the analogy of a book to work with. What we ended upwith gives you the same look and feel of picking up a book and readingit but in a 3-D digital format."
BT Plc Innovation News wrote:
BT researchers have used Nintendo Wii style technology to develop adevice for laptops that removes the need for a keyboard or a mouse.
BT Balance, works by enabling the user to manipulate menus andapplications simply by moving or tilting their machine. The small,specially designed adaptor containing movement sensors can be pluggedinto any standard laptop or tablet PC. The adaptor is then able to'talk' to software downloaded to the laptop and then translate themotion and rotation into actions on the user's computer screen.
The software can be adapted so that users can move a cursor aroundthe screen or even turn the pages of a virtual manual or book just bytilting or moving around their machine.
Adam Oliver, head of age and disability research wrote:
"The technology has obvious implications for thosewho are disabled or elderly and have difficulty using a fiddly laptopkeyboard or mouse."
"We quickly realised that it could have other commercialapplications such as someone needing to use their laptop in conditionswhere trying to type or manipulate a tiny keyboard is tricky or wherethey are unable to use both hands, such as an engineer or technicianworking in the field needing to navigate quickly round maps ordiagrams, or even someone just using their laptop on a crowded train.
"The software is extremely adaptable and can be used in all sorts ofways for example, it could be programmed in so that a user could makeor connect an incoming internet voice call or to access digitalpictures simply by tilting and tipping the computer."
5: Splashpower Wireless Charging Wireless electricity might sound far too space-age to be true, but itis - this firm is offering mobile phone charging using nothing but aspecial plate. No cables required!
http://www.splashpower.com/Products
SplashPower
Quote:
Splashpower has developed a new way of powering devices based on wireless power:
It eliminates the need for a different charger for every gadget
You can power up without the physical connecion to a device
With some products, you can charge more than one device at a time
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