Microsoft PlayAnywhere Recognized Hand Gestures
Published: Jun 27, 2007
A system that turns a tabletop, desktop or other smooth horizontal surface into a computer display and user interface is being developed by researchers at Microsoft. Microsoft PlayAnywhere was on display at the Microsoft Research Faculty Summit in Redmond.
This “surface computing” software can recognize and interact with sheets of paper, and cell phones on the desk and other objects. It follows hand movements to control functions.
PlayAnywhere interface is an intuitive way of interacting with computers. It is essentially a video camera mounted on a digital projector. The video camera looks at the very same surface that the projector displays on.
Andy Wilson, a Microsoft researcher, said that the project is meant to test sensing and display technologies. Microsoft is licensing another technology that allows people to interact with three-dimensional images.
As part of Microsoft’s efforts to generate revenue from in-house technology they plan to license the technology, called ToughLight, for manipulating three-dimensional images to California based company, EON Reality. The technology allows users physically move images around using their hands. EON Reality plans to incorporate the ToughLight technology into existing interactive display products.
