Microsoft Kinect

Probably the hottest thing in 2011. is Microsoft Kinect. It's looks like Minority Report GUI comes to life.



Computer is a tool, with mouse and keyboard as handles. To operate with it user needs to use hands and fingers, like when using a pencil to write a message. But, with this kind of technology, user interact with computer using body language, he doesn't operate with it... he communicate with it.
Maybe the next step would be facial expression, but this is very close to natural way of interaction with other living forms. Does it mean that computer isn't a tool anymore, is this make him more a family member... ? It would be interesting to see psyhological impact on us, the older guys. Anyway, this is extraordinary technology and I can't wait to get my hands on it ;-) .

It's interesting to see a birth of new GUI standards.

I notice a circle timer on some examples. Probably when user fix a hand on a single position in space (hotspot type), timer initialize. After a second, if user didn't move a hand, software detects a click.



For sure it would be interesting to see operation system based on this kind of interaction, with some tools like 3D modeler or Adobe Package.

Multi-touch Techology

Introduction

Multi-touch (or multitouch) denotes a set of interaction techniques which allow computer users to control graphical applications with several fingers.

This effect is achieved through a variety of means, including but not limited to: heat, finger pressure, high capture rate cameras, infrared light, optic capture, tuned electromagnetic induction, ultrasonic receivers, transducer microphones, laser rangefinders, and shadow capture.

At first my favorite - Minority Report

Jefferson Y. Han prototype

Jefferson Y. Han is a research scientist for New York University's (NYU) Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, and one of the main developers of an "interface-free" touch-driven computer screen. The screen is based on "multi-touch sensing," which is similar to existing touch-screen interfaces but able to recognize multiple points of contact.

He presented his multi-touch sensing work in February 2006 at the TED (Technology Entertainment Design) Conference in Monterey, California. TED released the video online 6
months later and it spread quickly on YouTube.

Microsoft Surface

In 2001 Steve Bathiche and Andy Wilson of Microsoft began work on an idea for an interactive table that mixes both physical and virtual worlds. Research and Development expanded rapidly in 2004, once the idea caught the attention of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. In 2007 Microsoft introduced Microsoft Surface, a functional multi-touch table-top computer based on a standard PC platform including an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, Windows Vista, and 2 GB of RAM.

Essentially, Microsoft Surface is a computer embedded in a table with a large, flat, touch-responsive display on the top. The table uses small cameras (as opposed to finger pressure or heat) that enable it to react to the touch of any object. The unit has eight different modes that allow users to perform an array of activities,ranging from organizing pictures and videos to ordering food at a restaurant. Multiple users have the ability to work on the table at one time. The preliminary launch was on April 17, 2008, when Surface became available for customer use in AT&T stores.

Obscura VisionAire Interface

Obscura Digital, who specialise in interactive media, have released a video demonstrating their new VisionAire “multitouch” projection system. The company themselves admit that it’s not exactly true multitouch, since there’s actually no contact involved; in fact, you gesture around in mid-air to control different windows and other objects. Multiple people can use the system at the same time.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/
http://www.youtube.com/

About this blog

This blog is open for discutions about new GUI solutions and new technologies, which hasn't yet became a standards in Human-Computer interaction. This is also for collecting of interesting, useful and inovative GUI solution.

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Author Name:Igor Kekeljevic
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