Tangible Table


I want one, and I want it now! There are a lot of these types of interactive displays under development, and hopefully a few will be reasonably priced when they hit the marketplace.

Our goal was to build a working prototype of a tangible table-based user interface. In contrast to a simulation, this environment facilitates the evaluation and testing of user interactions. That's why the visual components on the table surface (such as scales) are quite basic and rough. The principles of interaction and graphical behavior had higher priority.

Learn more about the Tangible Table

Related:
Reactable - multi-user electronic music instrument


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Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: thomas veil on April 29, 2008 at 2:33 AM

It's still the same basis to re-make one.
A video projector, a webcam (or a wiimote) a table/screen, and a good software.
(to me, the software is the most difficult part).

And here you go, your own interactive display table.


Posted by: Jason on April 29, 2008 at 7:54 AM

Multitouch

I recently built a Diffused illumination (DI) multitouch table. Basicly an Infrared backlit screen with rear projection and a hacked webcam. Sofware was touchlib, OSC and a mashup of flash/AIR.

The other method is FTIR, frustrated total internal reflection. Bouncing IR light through the edge of the plexiglass and once you press on the glass it deflects the light down into the capture device (camera). Much harder to build and it doesn't work with reactable.

The cool thing about DI is that it works with reactable and the sofware can recognise the fudicials. (patterns or shapes)

It was the best project I've worked on in a long time. I took it to our regional science fair and the kids loved it. Best site for hardware and software info: www.nuigroup.com
The forum is amazing.


Posted by: japroach on April 29, 2008 at 10:02 PM

With this one, I don't think a wiimote would be able to detect the complex patterns on the puck.

It can do up to 4 point sources though (as seen in j lee's projector calibration video).

http://www.wiili.org/index.php/Wiimote


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