Gemotion display boasts reactive 3D functionality

We've seen dozens of (mostly futile) attempts to bring 3D technology into our lives in a non-gimmicky manner, but the 54-year old Yoichiro Kawaguchi has developed yet another device that will likely fall by the wayside rather than gain steam. The University of Tokyo professor has devised a psychedelic 39- x 24-inch screen that boasts no fewer than 72 air cylinders behind the flexible fabric front, which are used to "push and pull" based on whatever action is being portrayed. The creator describes the Gemotion as a "soft, living display that that bulges and collapses in sync with the graphics on the screen," creating a moving display that's likely to terrify (or thrill, depending on perspective) small children. Apparently, the idea is to use computer software to convert images projected onto the screen into specific movements, allowing characters on screen to literally "jump out" at viewers, and can purportedly liven up your average "video game, TV show, or film" by giving it "an element of power never seen before." While the idea seems impressive in theory, we'd definitely need to see this thing in action before taking it too seriously, but those hanging around the National Art Center in Tokyo can drop by and give it a once over for us until February 4th.

[Via PinkTentacle]

[Jypson @ Jan 24th 2007 3:43AM]

A very interesting concept, but can it "buldge and collapse" quick enough to work with a movie or video game?

[MattNL @ Jan 24th 2007 5:22AM]

I'd like to watch the Ring on THAT one... :D

[Gil @ Jan 24th 2007 5:22AM]

Two words: haptic porn

[Ignacio @ Jan 24th 2007 6:19AM]

Anyone remembers that scene from Minority Report, where Tom Cruise' character is looking at recorded movies of his wife and child and they are projected over a 3D surface, almost *exactly* like this thing?

[Joel Heflin @ Jan 24th 2007 7:20AM]

it was nothing like this. In the movie he was watching home movies on a holographic projector, not a screen that "bulges"

[Ignacio @ Jan 24th 2007 8:05AM]

Sure, but the point is that it was just a 2d surface that was "bulged and collapsed" according to what was being shown, like in this device, not the classic sci-fi hologram like say in Star Wars.

[Nando @ Jan 24th 2007 7:29AM]

Imagine watching specially-made porn for that device. OMG!!!!!!! :honk honk: :squeeze squeeze: :sucky sucky fie dolah:

[Andir3.0 @ Jan 24th 2007 9:10AM]

There's a reason it's majority pink and he's wearing a scarf.

[WamBam @ Jan 24th 2007 11:45AM]

It's good that the Japanese James Brown is still alive and has steady employment.

[skv @ Jan 28th 2007 2:02PM]

Such a thing might prove fantastic if it becomes small enough to use in Tablets and PPC/iPhone etc. Ofcourse they`ll have to replace air cylinders with something more appropriate. So we can have a device with nothing but a touchscreen as input medium and still have tactile feedback(well sort of) whenever needed.