Microsoft's TouchLight Technology

By budda on Saturday, July 29th, 2006 comments

We're moving a step closer to the computer interface used in the Minority Report movie with Microsoft's TouchLight technology which is due for a launch later this year.

TouchLight lets users move and manipulate three-dimensional images with their hands.

David Harnett, Microsoft's senior director of IP ventures, has been discussing how the technology works and what practical uses it will have in an interview at CNet.

The concept appears to work really well - allowing a user to spin 3D objects around on screen, zoom in and out, and interact with the object; for example opening and closing parts of it.

The technology works by using 3 cameras and a projector. The cameras allow the computer to sense the depth and location of the users hands in 3D space.

A projector sits below the cameras and shows the image ready to be manipulated.
on a screen, in much the smae way as todays rear projection TVs.

The system works on a Windows platform, and a developers kit will be made available later this year to allow 3rd party developers to support the interface.

There's potential for loads of uses for this - in business and leisure. It's like the Nintendo Wii console v2!

Source: CNet News.com