http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/ Engadget Comments for The Interactive Tablecloth http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/Dec 19th 2005 2:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/The article just states 'objects' not 'hot objects'. The only thing that is unclear is the exact mechanism, it does say that it works by sensing weight but not how (piezo perhaps?)]]>Dec 19th 2005 2:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/Dec 19th 2005 2:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/
The position measurement is done by measuring weight loading across each of the table's legs, and triangulating position. They've done a series of weight-sensitive furniture like this.


From the website at http://machen.mrl.nott.ac.uk/Projects/DomesticEnv/weightfurniture.htm#hist

"The transparent flexible vinyl tablecloth measures 180 x 80 cm. It contains an encapsulated matrix of 7 x 18 electroluminescent lamps, each approximately 11cm in diameter, printed in a regularly repeating hexagonal floral design. Weight sensing cups are placed underneath the table legs. A central processor detects changes in table surface weight and translates this into a history of objects. The tablecloth plays out this history as a 'domestic' glowing pattern of graded light beneath the objects."

See also http://www.equator.ac.uk for more on the project as a whole (it's huge).

Bill Gaver gave a talk here in Dundee last week and showed some video of a couple using the tablecloth in their home. The tablecloth took some serious engineering to get going.

]]>Dec 19th 2005 2:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/Dec 19th 2005 2:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/Dec 19th 2005 2:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/
i *still* have a *functioning* hypercolor shirt. found it just the other day when working on moving actually. i'm soooooo wearing it on a regular basis again. YOU JUST WATCH ME.]]>Dec 19th 2005 2:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/Dec 19th 2005 2:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/Dec 19th 2005 2:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/Dec 19th 2005 2:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/
Or be able to tell who's been waiting the longest?

Or to tell if anything has been in contact with something for a certain time period?

Interesting application ideas from that one...]]>Dec 19th 2005 2:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/
With the 'growing' of the glow over a period of time, I could see many applications where a visual monitoring of the 'age' of an item on the shelf would be highly beneficial.]]>Dec 19th 2005 2:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/the-interactive-tablecloth/Dec 19th 2005 2:42AM