Multitoe floor shows us the logical next step (video)

If the toe mouse just wasn't grand enough for you, how about an entire floor to practice your foot-based inputs on? Researchers at Potsdam's (that's in Germany, yo) Hasso Plattner Institut have put together a multitouch floor that recognizes individual users by their shoe pattern and responds to such universally familiar actions as stomping your feet and tapping your toes. The so-called multitoe project works on the basis of frustrated total internal reflection, which allows it to ignore inactive users while being precise enough to recognize foot postures. Follow us after the break to see this back-projected proof of concept in action.

[Photo by Kay Herschelmann]

[hollowpoint Posted Apr 13th 2010 6:33AM]

Thats pretty cool!

Anyone in for a dance challange? :D

[abedinthehouse Posted Apr 13th 2010 9:29AM]

@hollowpoint
RAVE ANYONE?

[abedinthehouse Posted Apr 13th 2010 9:46AM]

@hollowpoint
ZOMG That strafing is EXACTLY what Project Natal needs! Hello FPS to Natal gaming environment!
MSFT YOU WATCHING THIS???
Get 'er done!

[TenaciousJ728 Posted Apr 14th 2010 1:08AM]

@hollowpoint Who's up for a game of Dance Dance Revolution???

[BarryBee Posted Apr 13th 2010 6:35AM]

Oh Engadget, I see what you did there.

[tech404 Posted Apr 13th 2010 6:38AM]

who said the ipad was a giant ipod touch, WOAH!!

[kitsune Posted Apr 13th 2010 6:41AM]

Impressive tech, I'm suprised by the precision.

[PhoenixFox Posted Apr 13th 2010 6:45AM]

she's cute.

[darkmax Posted Apr 13th 2010 7:53AM]

@PhoenixFox Yes, I was about to comment about her cuteness!

[pavlindrom Posted Apr 13th 2010 8:19AM]

@darkmax
But I would'be commented that they shouldn't have chosen a girl to do the game demo. A boy would've made it more entertaining. She was just boringly doing a few things.

[first name Greatest Posted Apr 13th 2010 1:01PM]

@PhoenixFox
i'd rather multi-touch her lol

[ian9outof10 Posted Apr 13th 2010 7:26AM]

Has some decent potential for people who can't use hand-held controllers. And it's potentially exciting as a form of outdoor display advertising.

[snowrid3r Posted Apr 13th 2010 7:33AM]

dance dance revolution,baby

[Sogeking Posted Apr 13th 2010 7:39AM]

Good work, but I'd be too lazy to use it daily.

[Antiapplekid Posted Apr 13th 2010 8:18AM]

That is crazy epic

[awam Posted Apr 13th 2010 8:19AM]

the next 'step' is a multitouch jump to conclusions mat

[mbmanning Posted Apr 13th 2010 2:09PM]

@awam Nice!

[Einlander Posted Apr 13th 2010 8:21AM]

First step to making the Holodeck

[choity Posted Apr 13th 2010 8:26AM]

Yeah

[HardToBelieve Posted Apr 13th 2010 8:30AM]

Want.

[Feign Posted Apr 13th 2010 10:19AM]

The fact that there are jumps as commands really speaks to this thing being really robust. I kind of wonder how practical this could be, as it looks like you'd have to build it into a floor, it's more of a permanent appliance than a peripheral.

I really like the "head tracking" though it's really "center of mass tracking".

[TareG Posted Apr 13th 2010 10:19AM]

Woah.....

Super awesome. Give me this + Natal + Move + a virtual reality helmet + a copy of COD:MW2.

[mryuk Posted Apr 13th 2010 10:45AM]

Just think how much we could improve the jump-to-conclusions mat!

[MaTdg Posted Apr 13th 2010 11:11AM]

So if you see someone doing the shuffle, he's actually updating his facebook status?

[sirphunkee Posted Apr 13th 2010 12:05PM]

Well I have to say the precision has come a long way since they first used the prototype in the Billy Jean video

[Shiftat9000 Posted Apr 13th 2010 12:33PM]

Nice, Finally a device that is cool, but even more useless than an iPad :)

[dekichan Posted Apr 13th 2010 12:39PM]

what, no wii-headtracking guy comment?

[freehand Posted Apr 13th 2010 6:32PM]

@dekichan I was looking for one aswell! I was shocked when I didn't see one. The target's instantly reminded me of the head tracking demo!

[FitFan Posted Apr 13th 2010 3:29PM]

I don't think the keyboard idea is very practical, but the tech is impressive and I can imagine many fun applications.

[Gamoe Posted Apr 13th 2010 11:45PM]

Has anyone thought that this could actually be a great way to learn to dance? Seriously, I can see dance schools using this in time. And in the home you cold buy a "dance program" to teach you, or just a really cool interactive dance hall for parties. How about calling for help in a hostage situation via subtle foot movements? Potential, potential...

[conyeje2 Posted Apr 15th 2010 2:02PM]

This brings the definition of "Zombie Gaming" to completion!

[The Emperor Posted Apr 16th 2010 6:29PM]

.