WESC Interactive Window Display Concept by Module Advanced Interface Design

Interactive Window Concept made for the module Advanced Interface Design at Hyper Island hosted by North Kingdom. Links: Beatriz Areilza bareilza.com, Gustaf Engström gustafengstrom.se, Juliana Oliveira Silva cargocollective.com/?julianasilva, Lucas Lima luklima.com, Marcus Wallander lorem-ipsum.se

LightSpace by Microsoft Research

LightSpace combines elements of surface computing and augmented reality research to create a highly interactive space where any surface, and even the space between surfaces, is fully interactive. This concept transforms the ideas of surface computing into the new realm of spatial computing. Instrumented with multiple depth cameras and projectors, LightSpace is a small room installation designed to explore a variety of interactions and computational strategies related to interactive displays and the space that they inhabit. LightSpace cameras and projectors are calibrated to 3D real world coordinates, allowing for projection of graphics correctly onto any surface visible by both camera and projector. Selective projection of the depth camera data enables emulation of interactive displays on un-instrumented surfaces (such as a standard table or office desk), as well as facilitates mid-air interactions between and around these displays. For example, after performing multi-touch interactions on a virtual object on the tabletop, the user may transfer the object to another display by simultaneously touching the object and the destination display. Or the user may “pick up” the object by sweeping it into their hand, see it sitting in their hand as they walk over to an interactive wall display, and “drop” the object onto the wall by touching it with their other hand.

Skinput by Chris Harrison, Desney Tan and Dan Morris

Really interesting concept for using the human body as an input device. More info from the website “Appropriating the human body as an input device is appealing not only because we have roughly two square meters of external surface area, but also because much of it is easily accessible by our hands (e.g., arms, upper legs, torso). Furthermore, proprioception (our sense of how our body is configured in three-dimensional space) allows us to accurately interact with our bodies in an eyes-free manner. For example, we can readily flick each of our fingers, touch the tip of our nose, and clap our hands together without visual assistance. Few external input devices can claim this accurate, eyes-free input characteristic and provide such a large interaction area.”

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Smart Geometry 2010 by Felipe Pecegueiro do Amaral Cura

Really interesting video talking about how to use parametric software to control objects in space. Lots to think about. Great work over there on so many different levels. More info on the conference website.

Curious Displays by Julia Yu Tsao

Curious Displays functions simultaneously as a form of design research and as a proposal for a new product, a future display technology. Curious Displays is a product proposal for a new platform for display technology. Instead of a fixed form factor screen, the display surface is instead broken up into hundreds of ½ inch display blocks. Each block operates independently as a self-contained unit, and has full mobility, allowing movement across any physical surface. The blocks operate independently of one another, but are aware of the position and role relative to the rest of the system. With this awareness, the blocks are able to coordinate with the other blocks to reconfigure their positioning to form larger display surfaces and forms depending on purpose and function. In this way, the blocks become a physical embodiment of digital media, and act as a vehicle for the physical manifestation of what typically exists only in the virtual space of the screen. More of Julia’s great work can be seen on her website.

Magic Book by Camille Scherrer

Great thesis project on the possibilities of augmented reality in animating story. The set-up [a book, a lamp, and a laptop] seems perfectly harmless at first sight. But as soon as you open the book under the lamp … the pages take on new animated and mysterious dimensions … worlds appear and disappear with a direct connection to the actual items printed on paper: animal figures appear over the mountains, peaks emerge in a shadow play, a bird silently flies over, foxes light up the text with their lanterns at dusk … The book’s iconography, inspired from a family album of the 1930s, changes into a virtual fairy tale. More of her work can be seen on her website.

Augmented (hyper)Reality: Domestic Robocop

Great student project showing possibilities in Augmented Reality. The author writes “The latter half of the 20th century saw the built environment merged with media space, and architecture taking on new roles related to branding, image and consumerism. Augmented reality may recontextualise the functions of consumerism and architecture, and change in the way in which we operate within it. A film produced for my final year Masters in Architecture, part of a larger project about the social and architectural consequences of new media and augmented reality.” I think this is a great example of what is possible and why it is so critical that we design how this media is integrated with architecture.

Sniff Interface by Karolina Sobecka

Sniff is an interesting interactive interface concept. Sniff is an interactive projection in a storefront window. As the viewer walks by the projection, her movements and gestures are tracked by a computer vision system. A CG dog dynamically responds to these gestures and changes his behavior based on the state of engagement with the viewer. More information about this project can be found on the website.

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