Interactive -- Engadget

interactive posts

LAb[au]'s f5x5x5 framework sculpture mesmerizes on video

by Darren Murph posted Oct 28th 2009 at 7:53AM

It's been nearly three full years since we've seen anything hot and fresh from LAb[au], but thankfully, said drought is decidedly over. By using a combination of aluminum, Plexiglas, LED lights, determination, wit, stepper motors, critical thinking and IR tracking technologies, the f5x5x5 sculpture was created. Dubbed a "kinetic and luminous framework," the installation is part of a larger '16n' project designed to confront architectural problems (like congestion and flows) with spatial sensing technologies. We know, that's all pretty deep -- but if you're just lookin' for a good time, we'd recommend heading past the break, mashing play and dropping your kudos in comments.

Continue reading LAb[au]'s f5x5x5 framework sculpture mesmerizes on video

UK moviegoers treated to industry's first interactive 3D game

by Darren Murph posted Jul 2nd 2009 at 9:41AM

Now here's a way to make us show up for the previews. O2 has evidently figured out that getting moviegoers involved in the action is a good way to get more fundaments in seats, and starting next week, the first in-cinema interactive 3D game will be rolled out in 20 Vue theaters around the UK. The title, dubbed Asteroid Storm, will rely on two overhead cameras that recognize hand raises down below. In short, moviegoers simply move their hands to direct a damaged spaceship out of an asteroid belt, but there's no word on whether or not "everyone's a winner." Here's hoping not, chumps.

Interactive data eyeglasses could bring the PC to your face, won't fix nearsightedness

by Darren Murph posted Jun 4th 2009 at 8:19AM

Leave it the mad scientists at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to concoct this one. Rather than just figuring out a way to read back information in one-way fashion on one's glasses (think Sixth Sense, but with eyewear), these folks are diving right in to the real stuff: bidirectional communication. In essence, their goal for the interactive data eyeglasses is to track eye movement in order to allow ones retinas to scroll through menus, flip through options and zoom in / out on a map. Obviously, a microdisplay will be necessary as well, but that's just half the battle. We'll confess -- we're still not humble enough to take our Vuzix HMD out in public, but we just might swap our Transitions™ for a set of these.

[Via OLED-Display]

IDT to swap solar cells into LCDs, but not for energy reasons

by Darren Murph posted May 31st 2009 at 9:39AM

Solar-powered LCDs? Oh, yeah -- we've got those. Sadly, that's not at all what Integrated Digital Technologies is aiming to improve upon next week at Computex, though we still find its approach to trimming LCD weight and manufacturing costs an interesting one. If we're digesting this correctly, we're hearing that the outfit plans to create interactive displays (or iScreens) that have embedded solar cells in the TFT array rather than extra film or glass with photo sensors. The result? A cost savings of up to 30 percent in manufacturing, not to mention a rather significant decrease in weight. Without any images to go by, it's still a wee bit tough to really wrap our heads around this new take, but hopefully we'll see more next week in Taiwan.

[Via TG Daily]

Video: Microsoft's Future really does make your computer a big-ass table

by Thomas Ricker posted May 14th 2009 at 2:19AM

The problem with most so-called "homes of the future" is that they come off looking like a theme-park vision of the space age (read: the 1970s). The Microsoft Home, however, manages to piece together a realistic vision of our homes on a 5 to 10 year horizon -- a timeline just long enough to allow the nascent technologies of today to go mainstream. As such, it's no surprise to find dwellers interacting with the environment through gestures and voice to control interactive cooking surfaces in the kitchen and the digital wall paper in the kids' room. More prophetic perhaps, the promise that "one day your computer will be a big-ass table" appears to be coming true in the dining room. Take the tour in video form after the break.

Continue reading Video: Microsoft's Future really does make your computer a big-ass table

ENESS Humble Telescope brings space to you, your ego down a notch

by Darren Murph posted Mar 31st 2009 at 7:32AM

Think the world is your oyster? Think you've got it all figured out? Think again, bub. ENESS' appropriately named Humble Telescope is an interactive installation that presents a 3D simulation of our entire known universe to anyone who dares peer in. Viewers simply point the "telescope" in any direction, and instantaneously they're presented with what exists in that specific area of space. The sheer magnitude of it coupled with the views from beyond seek to remind us of just how small we are in the grand scheme of things, and quite honestly, we're tearing up just thinking about it. Grab a tissue and head past the break for a life-changing video.

[Via OhGizmo]

Continue reading ENESS Humble Telescope brings space to you, your ego down a notch

QIO Systems aims for interchangeable wearable garb with PANiQ line

by Darren Murph posted Jan 26th 2009 at 9:29AM

iPod jackets aren't what we'd call "a dime a dozen," but they aren't impossible to find, either. QIO Systems is looking to take the next logical step in wearable electronics by giving gadget lovers the ability to choose which thread to wear while retaining the innate ability to play nice with one's PMP. The PANiQ controller is a removable, standardized dongle that can be attached to any piece of clothing in the burgeoning PANiQmode line of attire. Said clothing will tout inbuilt controls that will play nice with any device attached via a PANiQ module, with initial support including dock-connecting iPods / iPhones and Bluetooth devices. So far, PANiQ customers include Cole Haan, Zoo York, KILLA, iQuantum, Celio, Beaucre, and Bailo, but we're hoping that list grows exponentially in the near future.

[Via CNET]

Pioneer intros BDP-120 / BDP-320 / Elite BDP-23FD Blu-ray players

by Darren Murph posted Jan 8th 2009 at 9:00AM

Pioneer has put a few new BD-related products of late in other regions of the world, but America has been longing for a fresh line of Blu-ray decks from the outfit for months. At long last, we're being treated to a shiny new Profile 2.0 trio: the BDP-120, BDP-320 and the RS-232C-packin' Elite BDP-23FD (pictured above). From the top, the 120 features HDMI 1.3a, Dolby TrueHD / DTS-HD bitstreaming, 1080p24 output, BD-Live with no internal memory (1GB flash drive is included), TrueHD / DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and an Ethernet jack. The 320 steps it up with 48-bit Deep Color support, three noise reduction circuits, KURO Link, 7.1-channel analog audio outs, 1GB of internal memory and a "jitter free audio transmission for CD playback." The Elite deck adds an aluminum front panel, RS-232C control port and little else. The trifecta is expected to hit in April for undetermined prices, though you can find the ultraslim DV-420 upscaling DVD player in June for just $90. The finer details are just past the break.

Continue reading Pioneer intros BDP-120 / BDP-320 / Elite BDP-23FD Blu-ray players

The Dark Knight fan commentary BD-Live feature shown on video

by Darren Murph posted Dec 9th 2008 at 8:50PM

So, you and hundreds of thousands of others picked up your Blu-ray copy of The Dark Knight today, huh? We know you haven't had time to fiddle with the BD-Live extras just yet, but one Joe Lynch from G4 TV has. One of the most intriguing aspects of the flick's interactive feature set is the fan commentary; put simply, users hook up a USB webcam to their player (PS3 included) and then commentate as the film progresses. From there, you can upload your take(s) to the BD-Live servers for others to enjoy. Granted, we aren't too sure how you'll actually find someone bored enough to listen to you jabber on about a film they purchased, but we reckon that's beside the point. Vid's waiting after the break.

Continue reading The Dark Knight fan commentary BD-Live feature shown on video

Video: Sensacell's interactive floor shows trail of LED footprints

by Darren Murph posted Aug 13th 2008 at 12:05PM

Far from being the first LED-infused floor we've seen hipsters and hippies break dance and boogie down on (respectively), Sensacell's latest contraption still manages to stand out by bringing back memories of when mouse trails really were the coolest thing about an operating system. Flashbacks aside, the installation -- which is currently at the entrance to the Comunitat Valenciana in Spain -- possesses over 1,000 interactive modules, each of which include capacitive sensors and a LED lighting system. The integrated tech enables it to recognize when someone is walking over it and consequently light up as if to leave an eye-catching LED trail of their path. Can you imagine how many ~~hours~~ days you could entertain an ageless kid with this? Video after the jump.

Continue reading Video: Sensacell's interactive floor shows trail of LED footprints

Nintendo's DS-accessible Fan Network now free at Safeco Field

by Darren Murph posted Apr 23rd 2008 at 7:57AM

Nearly a year after the innovative (albeit not-entirely-practical) Nintendo Fan Network went live at Safeco Field in Seattle, the powers that be have decided to nix those pesky access fees and give every DS-toting guest access gratis. That's right, folks who show up to catch a Mariners game can now check out other MLB scores, dig deep within player stats, order up grossly overpriced grub and even watch a terribly pixelated version of the game they're currently at without handing over one red cent. The nosebleed section never had so much potential.

[Via Joystiq]

Interactive windows dare you to catch a Scion tC RS 4.0

by Darren Murph posted Apr 18th 2008 at 6:52AM

Oh sure, we've most certainly seen window-based advertising used to lure the untrained eye to any manner of wares, but Scion's latest iteration certainly takes interactive promoting to new heights. In order to market its limited edition tC Release Series 4.0, it partnered up with InWindow to cover a series of street-side windows with bubbles which reacted to movements made by captivated individuals walking by. Granted, the installation isn't nearly as addictive as say, trying to wrangle up every single Pokémon, but it definitely managed to hold the attention of a few geeked-out civilians. Check it out for yourself, the video's right after the jump.

[Via Digg, thanks Andres]

Continue reading Interactive windows dare you to catch a Scion tC RS 4.0

Wizkid looks nothing like a child, is likely smarter than one

by Darren Murph posted Feb 22nd 2008 at 8:54AM

We'll be straight with you -- Wizkid would be a lot easier to take seriously if it looked even remotely like a fellow Earthling, or at least an animal. Instead, we're left with a curiously designed, but totally brilliant robot that can hone in on human faces, remember your preferences and understand hand motions. Essentially, the creature is set to improve our lives by cranking up the stereo when we wave a CD in its grill, playing games with lonely souls and keeping us occupied with other on-screen interactive applications. No word on whether this kiddo is destined for the commercial realm, but folks incredibly curious can go say hello at The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

[Via Primidi]

Hands-on with Imagion AG's dynamicHD HD DVD & Blu-ray technology

by Richard Lawler posted Jan 12th 2008 at 10:11AM

Tucked away in the HD DVD booth, Imagion AG -- creators of the first HD DVD with internet connectivity, the first European HD DVD and the first Blu-ray Profile 1.1 release -- was showing off its end to end tools for creating next gen interactive features. Despite being a Blu-ray exclusive movie in the U.S., Imagion is working on the Terminator 2: Ultimate HD Edition release for Europe, which will let fans view the script and/or storyboard during playback, share special edits of the movie via the internet, and track their interactive Blu-ray and HD DVDs via tuneHD.net, powered by their dynamicHD tech. With simplified access for publishers to update online features through a web interface and community features connect fans, Imagion is continuing to push the edges of next gen disc formats. Check out the gallery for a look at what tomorrow's HDi and BD Live discs can do.

Gallery: Imagion AG dynamicHD HD DVD demo

Samsung intros new 1080p LCD HDTVs, Ethernet / interactivity included

by Darren Murph posted Jan 6th 2008 at 5:01PM

If you've got a thing for cutting-edge LCD HDTVs, you've come to the right place. Starting with the big boy, we've got the 65-inch LN52A750 (also available in 40-, 46- and 52-inches), which sports a 1080p resolution with 120Hz Auto Motion Plus technology. Additionally, you'll find an Ethernet connection for accessing customizable RSS feeds, 1GB of internal flash memory that "includes interactive content such as cooking recipes, children's entertainment, HD artwork and more," a four-millisecond response time, four HDMI 1.3 sockets with CEC and a USB 2.0 port for connecting PMPs and the like. Also on the way is a slightly downgraded 6 series sans flash memory and side mounted USB port, due in March in the same sizes.

Continue reading Samsung intros new 1080p LCD HDTVs, Ethernet / interactivity included