Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget 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/<![CDATA[US Department of Homeland Security developing system to predict criminal intent]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/08/us-department-of-homeland-security-developing-system-to-predict/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/08/us-department-of-homeland-security-developing-system-to-predict/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/08/us-department-of-homeland-security-developing-system-to-predict/#comments We're not exactly lacking in opportunities for Minority Report references these days, but sometimes they're just unavoidable. According to a new report from CNET based on documents obtained by the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the US Department of Homeland security is now working on a system dubbed FAST (or Future Attribute Screening Technology) that's designed to identify individuals who are most likely to commit a crime. That's not done with something as simple as facial recognition and background checks, however, but rather algorithms and an array of sensors and cameras that can detect both physiological and behavioral cues that are said to be "indicative of mal-intent." What's more, while the DHS says that it has no plans to actually deploy the system in public just yet, it has apparently already conducted a limited trial using DHS employees -- though no word on the results of how well it actually works, of course. Hit the source link below for the complete (albeit somewhat redacted) documents.

US Department of Homeland Security developing system to predict criminal intent originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 02:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimedepartment of homeland securityDepartmentOfHomelandSecurityDHSFASThomeland securityHomelandSecurityminority reportMinorityReportpre-crimescreeningSat, 08 Oct 2011 02:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Live Fall 2011 Dashboard update preview: Bing search, voice control, and a Metro overhaul]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/09/xbox-live-fall-2011-dashboard-update-preview-bing-search-voice/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/09/xbox-live-fall-2011-dashboard-update-preview-bing-search-voice/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/09/xbox-live-fall-2011-dashboard-update-preview-bing-search-voice/#comments Autumn is fast approaching -- and you know what that means: it's round about time for an Xbox Dashboard update. Sure, we got a peek of Microsoft's upcoming harvest back at E3, but the good folks from Redmond invited us to take a closer look at what they're calling the "most significant update to the Dashboard since NXE." Senior project Manager Terry Ferrell was on-site to walk us through an early engineering beta and show us how an updated Metro UI, Bing search and deeper Kinect integration is going to change the way folks manage their entertainment content.

Continue reading Xbox Live Fall 2011 Dashboard update preview: Bing search, voice control, and a Metro overhaul

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Xbox Live Fall 2011 Dashboard update preview: Bing search, voice control, and a Metro overhaul originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bingbing searchBingSearchdashboarddashboard updateDashboardUpdateFacebookfall dashboard updatefall dashboard update 2011FallDashboardUpdateFallDashboardUpdate2011gaminghdpostcrossimpressionskinectMetroMetro UIMetroUiMicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoftKinectMinority ReportnatalpreviewStar Trekvideo gamesVideoGamesvoicevoice controlvoice controlledvoice recognitionVoiceControlVoiceControlledVoiceRecognitionWindows PhoneWindowsPhonexboxxbox 360xbox dashboardxbox livexbox live dashboardxbox live dashboard updateXbox-360Xbox360XboxDashboardXboxLiveXboxLiveDashboardXboxLiveDashboardUpdateZuneFri, 09 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[KinectNUI enables Minority Report style interaction in Windows sans gloves (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/kinectnui-enables-minority-report-style-interaction-in-windows-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/kinectnui-enables-minority-report-style-interaction-in-windows-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/kinectnui-enables-minority-report-style-interaction-in-windows-s/#comments KinectNUI
When Microsoft released its Kinect SDK we marveled at the impact it could have on desktop interaction; sure enough, Kevin Connolly's Kinect Natural User Interface has made our geeky pipe-dreams a reality. His inspiration for project? Not surprisingly, the Minority Report UI (aka g-speak). Similar projects like MIT's hack do exist, but it's brilliant knowing that another emulation has been made rather quickly with Redmond's tools. In a brief video using the Kinect on Windows 7, he demos various ways of manipulating on-screen content with hand gestures and body tracking -- neglecting his mouse in the process. It's still a work in progress, but the results are already quite striking, so take that ancient input device and click past the break for the full demo.

Continue reading KinectNUI enables Minority Report style interaction in Windows sans gloves (video)

KinectNUI enables Minority Report style interaction in Windows sans gloves (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chris PirilloChrisPirilloInteractive UIInteractiveUikevin connollyKevinConnollykinectkinect natural user interfaceKinect NUIKinectNaturalUserInterfaceKinectNuilocker gnomelockergnomeMicrosoftminority reportminority report interfaceMinorityReportMinorityReportInterfaceMotion sensingmotion trackingMotionSensingMotionTrackingMultiTouchnatural user interfaceNaturalUserInterfaceplaystation eyePlaystationEyeproject natalProjectNatalPS EyePsEyeracingtsilbvideoxboxxbox 360xbox 360 kinectxbox kinectXbox360Xbox360KinectXboxKinectMon, 27 Jun 2011 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[LG shows off 47-inch transparent IPS LCD with multitouch and Full HD resolution (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/11/lg-shows-off-47-inch-transparent-ips-lcd-with-multitouch-and-ful/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/11/lg-shows-off-47-inch-transparent-ips-lcd-with-multitouch-and-ful/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/11/lg-shows-off-47-inch-transparent-ips-lcd-with-multitouch-and-ful/#comments Where Samsung leads, LG inevitably follows (and vice versa, of course). The Korean electronic arms race has now heated up by an extra few degrees with LG's demo of a crazy new 47-inch display that packs in everything a geek could want: IPS technology, 1080p resolution, multitouch, and some good old transparency... just because. This so-called Window Display is sadly intended for advertisers and other digital signage proprietors, meaning that even if it wasn't still at the concept stage, it likely wouldn't be populating living rooms anyway. Ah well, so long as LG makes sure John Anderton and the precrime unit get one, we'll be happy. Video for the rest of us after the break.

Continue reading LG shows off 47-inch transparent IPS LCD with multitouch and Full HD resolution (video)

LG shows off 47-inch transparent IPS LCD with multitouch and Full HD resolution (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 03:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p47-inchconceptdemodemonstrationdigital signageDigitalSignagedisplayfull hdFullHdhdipsips lcdIpsLcdiseise 2011Ise2011lcdlgLG DisplayLgDisplayminority reportMinorityReportmonitormultitouchscreentranslucenttransparentvideowindow displayWindowDisplayMon, 11 Apr 2011 03:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect finally fulfills its Minority Report destiny (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/09/kinect-finally-fulfills-its-minority-report-destiny-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/09/kinect-finally-fulfills-its-minority-report-destiny-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/09/kinect-finally-fulfills-its-minority-report-destiny-video/#comments Not to denigrate the numerous fine hacks that Kinect's undergone since its launch, but it's always nice to see the professionals come in and shake things up a little. A crew from MIT's brain labs has put together a hand detection system on Microsoft's ultra-versatile cam, which is sophisticated enough to recognize the position of both your palms and fingers. Just as a demonstration, they've tied that good stuff up to a little picture-scrolling UI, and you won't be surprised to hear that it's the closest thing to Minority Report's interactive gesture-based interface that we've seen yet. And it's all achieved with a freaking console peripheral. Video after the break.

Continue reading Kinect finally fulfills its Minority Report destiny (video)

Kinect finally fulfills its Minority Report destiny (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gesturegesture controlGestureControlgestureshackhackinghand detectionHandDetectionkinectmicrosoftminority reportMinorityReportmitmit csailMitCsailuniversityxboxThu, 09 Dec 2010 08:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Criminal behavior prediction software to go live in D.C., Precogs union up in arms]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/26/criminal-behavior-prediction-software-to-go-live-in-d-c-precog/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/26/criminal-behavior-prediction-software-to-go-live-in-d-c-precog/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/26/criminal-behavior-prediction-software-to-go-live-in-d-c-precog/#comments
We all know what happens when people start using supernatural forces to predict and prevent crimes, and we certainly don't want to go there. But software that predicts criminal behavior is already in effect in Baltimore and Philadelphia: while it won't send a SWAT team to a perp's door moments before shots are fired, it will algorithmically show which criminals are most likely to commit or be victims of certain crimes in the future. While the software is now being used to determine how closely parolees should be monitored for murder risk, law enforcement agents in D.C. are hoping to use it to detect the likelihood of lesser crimes as well. Forget all that gobbledygook about immigrants taking all our jobs--let's figure out a better way to keep algorithms from getting into the U.S. of A.

[Photo courtesy Bryan Babich]

Criminal behavior prediction software to go live in D.C., Precogs union up in arms originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>algorithmalgorithmsbaltimorecrimelaw enforcementLawEnforcementminority reportMinorityReportphiladelphiaprecogpreventionsoftwarewashington dcWashingtonDcThu, 26 Aug 2010 10:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Glowing Pathfinder Bugs installation puts the 'Minority Report' interface to good use - in a sand box (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/30/glowing-pathfinder-bugs-installation-puts-the-minority-report/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/30/glowing-pathfinder-bugs-installation-puts-the-minority-report/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/30/glowing-pathfinder-bugs-installation-puts-the-minority-report/#comments
Nestled among the various booths at SIGGRAPH 2010 visitors got to check out a unique installation called Glowing Pathfinder Bugs. Created by Squidsoup and Anthony Rowe, this interactive art piece uses projectors to place "bugs" made out of light in a sandbox, coupled with a 3D gesture-based interface that allows people to pick up, move, and even breed the creatures. The system even takes the topography of the sand itself into consideration: altering the sand will alter the bug's path. It's nice to see someone put an interface technology to good use for a change! Video after the break.

Continue reading Glowing Pathfinder Bugs installation puts the 'Minority Report' interface to good use - in a sand box (video)

Glowing Pathfinder Bugs installation puts the 'Minority Report' interface to good use - in a sand box (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Anthony RoweAnthonyRoweartbugbugsGesture ControlGesture recognitionGestureControlGestureRecognitionGlowing Pathfinder BugsGlowingPathfinderBugsinstallationminority reportMinorityReportsandsandboxsiggraphsiggraph 2010Siggraph2010squidsoupvideoFri, 30 Jul 2010 12:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Hitachi shows off new gesture-based interface, touts grand plans]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/hitachi-shows-off-new-gesture-based-interface-touts-grand-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/hitachi-shows-off-new-gesture-based-interface-touts-grand-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/hitachi-shows-off-new-gesture-based-interface-touts-grand-plans/#comments Hitachi's already dipped its toes (or hands, as it were) into the gesture-based waters before, but it looks to have refined things quite a bit for its latest Minority Report-esque demo, which the company is showing off as part of its 100th anniversary celebration. While complete details are a bit light, the system does seem to be reasonably responsive, and appears to rely on a projection-based system and a single camera to track movements. Perhaps what's most interesting, however, is that Hitachi eventually sees systems like this being used in everything from digital signage to medical applications -- and, yes, even TVs and desktop computers (though not before mid-2011 at the earliest). Head on past the break to check it out in action.

Continue reading Hitachi shows off new gesture-based interface, touts grand plans

Hitachi shows off new gesture-based interface, touts grand plans originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital signageDigitalSignagegesturegesture controlGestureControlgestureshitachiminority reportMinorityReportmotion controlMotionControlvideoThu, 29 Jul 2010 16:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer FIT touch-free gesture-control for multiple users (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/fraunhofer-fit-touch-free-gesture-control-for-multiple-users-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/fraunhofer-fit-touch-free-gesture-control-for-multiple-users-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/fraunhofer-fit-touch-free-gesture-control-for-multiple-users-vi/#comments It seems like everyone is cooking up their own touch-free gesture-based control technology, just like every blogger is destined to refer to it as "Minority Report-like" or "Minority Report-esque," or "Tom Cruise-tastic!" Fraunhofer's FIT, the newest such project, has recently appeared on the YouTubes, where we must say it looks pretty darn good. Not only does it not require special gloves or markers, this thing also works in real time and can support multiple users (and multiple fingers). The researchers hope to use this for working with complex simulation data and in education, although there are some kinks to be worked out: currently elements like the reflections caused by wristwatches and the orientation of the palm confuses the system. That said, the demo is pretty rad! See for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Fraunhofer FIT touch-free gesture-control for multiple users (video)

Fraunhofer FIT touch-free gesture-control for multiple users (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fitfraunhoferfraunhofer fitFraunhoferFitGesture ControlGesture recognitionGestureControlGestureRecognitionminority reportMinorityReportvideoWed, 21 Jul 2010 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Camera-equipped digital billboards scan humans in Tokyo, serve up tailored ads]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/15/camera-equipped-digital-billboards-scan-humans-in-tokyo-serve-u/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/15/camera-equipped-digital-billboards-scan-humans-in-tokyo-serve-u/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/15/camera-equipped-digital-billboards-scan-humans-in-tokyo-serve-u/#comments Marketing managers, you best take a seat. This right here is your future, like it or not. According to a new report from one Earth's most mesmerizing cities, digital advertising billboards are being trialled in Japan that are not only equipped with cameras, but with an ability to scan passers-by for gender and age group. Once that data is collected, the billboard then flashes an advertisement that best fits the type of human walking by. So, anyone care to guess which ad gets shown when the 6PM central station train lets out?

Camera-equipped digital billboards scan humans in Tokyo, serve up tailored ads originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsadvertisingawesomebillboardcameracrazydgital signageDgitalSignagedigital billboardsDigitalBillboardsjapanmarketingMinority ReportMinorityReportscanscannersubwayTokyowildThu, 15 Jul 2010 10:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Minority Report UI designer demos his tech at TED (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/03/minority-report-ui-designer-demos-his-tech-at-ted/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/03/minority-report-ui-designer-demos-his-tech-at-ted/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/03/minority-report-ui-designer-demos-his-tech-at-ted/#comments In February 2010, the man who built the technology of Minority Report twice -- once for the movie, and once in real life -- spoke at TED about the future of user interface design. Yesterday, TED posted John Underkoffler's entire fifteen-minute video presentation -- a copy of which you'll find right after the break. Get a curated glimpse into his company's tech in the following demo, and hear from the man himself when the gloves might come off. And if that doesn't satisfy your appetite, read an in-depth interview with Underkoffler at our more coverage link.

Continue reading Minority Report UI designer demos his tech at TED (video)

Minority Report UI designer demos his tech at TED (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 02:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>g-speakGesture Controlgesture controlledGestureControlGestureControlledJohn UnderkofflerJohnUnderkofflerMinority ReportMinorityReportmotion controlmotion controlledMotionControlMotionControlledmultitouchoblongoblong g-speakOblong IndustriesOblongG-speakOblongIndustriesUIuser interfaceuser interface designUserInterfaceUserInterfaceDesignvideoThu, 03 Jun 2010 02:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Research toys with the cosmos... using forefinger and thumb (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/microsoft-research-toys-with-the-cosmos-using-forefinger-and/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/microsoft-research-toys-with-the-cosmos-using-forefinger-and/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/microsoft-research-toys-with-the-cosmos-using-forefinger-and/#comments We've always been suckers for Minority Report tech, and Microsoft Research's latest attempt is not to be missed. Thought pinch-to-zoom was quaint? Try pinching the sky in this geodesic dome. Though the cardboard-and-paper-clip structure isn't all that (unless you're the arts and crafts type), the inside houses a projectiondesign DLP unit with a custom infrared camera system that can turn simple hand gestures into virtual interstellar travel, 360-degree video teleconferencing and more. You'll find a pair of videos demonstrating the concept after the break, but try not to get too attached -- if you're anything like us, your poor heart can't handle another Courier axing.

Continue reading Microsoft Research toys with the cosmos... using forefinger and thumb (video)

Microsoft Research toys with the cosmos... using forefinger and thumb (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 May 2010 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conceptgestureGesture Controlgesture controlledgesture inputGesture recognitionGestureControlGestureControlledGestureInputGestureRecognitiongesturesHrvoje BenkoHrvojeBenkoMicrosoftMicrosoft ResearchMicrosoftResearchMinority ReportMinorityReportprojectiondesignsphericalvideoMon, 31 May 2010 10:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba AirSwing UI puts you on the screen with your data]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/28/toshiba-airswing-ui-puts-you-on-the-screen-with-your-data/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/28/toshiba-airswing-ui-puts-you-on-the-screen-with-your-data/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/28/toshiba-airswing-ui-puts-you-on-the-screen-with-your-data/#comments
We've seen a Minority Report-esque interface or two hundred by this point, but Toshiba's AirSwing really caught our attention. Using little more than a webcam and some software, this bad boy places a semi-transparent image of the operator on the display -- all the easier to maneuver through the menus. And according to Toshiba, that software only utilizes about three percent of a 400MHz ARM 11 CPU -- meaning that you have plenty of processor left for running your pre-crime diagnostics. There is no telling when something like this might become commercially available, but the company plans to bundle it in commercial displays for malls and the like. Video after the break.

Continue reading Toshiba AirSwing UI puts you on the screen with your data

Toshiba AirSwing UI puts you on the screen with your data originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 May 2010 02:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airswinggesturegesture based uiGesture ControlGestureBasedUiGestureControlinterfaceminority reportMinorityReporttoshibauivideoFri, 28 May 2010 02:38:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT researchers develop the most fabulous gesture control technique yet]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/23/mit-researchers-develop-the-most-fabulous-gesture-control-techni/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/23/mit-researchers-develop-the-most-fabulous-gesture-control-techni/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/23/mit-researchers-develop-the-most-fabulous-gesture-control-techni/#comments
When looking for a cheap, reliable way to track gestures, Robert Wang and Jovan Popovic of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory came upon this notion: why not paint the operator's hands (or better yet, his Lycra gloves) in a manner that will allow the computer to differentiate between different parts of the hand, and differentiate between the hand and the background? Starting with something that Howie Mandel might have worn in the 80s, the researchers are able to use a simple webcam to track the hands' locations and gestures -- with relatively little lag. The glove itself is split into twenty patches made up of ten different colors, and while there's no telling when this technology will be available for consumers, something tells us that when it does become available it'll be very hard not to notice. Video after the break.

Update: Just received a nice letter from Rob Wang, who points out that his website is the place to see more videos, get more info, and -- if you're lucky -- one day download the APIs so you can try it yourself. What are you waiting for?

Continue reading MIT researchers develop the most fabulous gesture control technique yet

MIT researchers develop the most fabulous gesture control technique yet originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 May 2010 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence LaboratoryComputerScienceAndArtificialIntelligenceLaboratorygesture controlGestureControlgloveshand controlHandControlhandsJovan PopovicJovanPopoviclycraminority reportMinorityReportMITRobert WangRobertWangvideoSun, 23 May 2010 22:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray releases on April 20th 2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/blu-ray-releases-on-april-20th-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/blu-ray-releases-on-april-20th-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/blu-ray-releases-on-april-20th-2010/#commentsAvatar Blu-rayAvatar comes out on Thursday and honestly we could end this post like that. Sure it isn't the most refreshing plot line, but 221k people voted on IMDB, and despite the new movie prejudice, it is ranked number 72 of all time -- which isn't easy to do. Although the 2D presentation of the movie in the theater was 2.35, the Blu-ray disc is 1.78, and no it isn't cropped. We know many out there will post in protest over the apparent double dipping, but we have little doubt that Avatar will rule every chart on every format it's available on. Also this week is a personal favorite, Minority Report, as well as the 80's and 90's Batman series which we have to say really doesn't hold up.

Avatar (Fox)
Crazy Heart (Fox)
Minority Report (DreamWorks)
The Lovely Bones (DreamWorks)
44 Inch Chest (Image)
The Young Victoria (Sony)
Batman & Robin (Warner)
Batman (1989) (Warner)
Batman Forever (Warner)
Batman Returns (Warner)
Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This (Weinstein)
Summer Hours (Criterion)
Vivre Sa Vie (Criterion)
The Telling (Terra)
The Basketball Diaries (Palm)

Blu-ray releases on April 20th 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AvatarBatmanBlu-rayhdHD ReleasesHdReleasesMinority ReportMinorityReportMon, 19 Apr 2010 21:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Glove Mouse project gives 'pinch to zoom' a new meaning (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/31/glove-mouse-project-gives-pinch-to-zoom-a-new-meaning-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/31/glove-mouse-project-gives-pinch-to-zoom-a-new-meaning-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/31/glove-mouse-project-gives-pinch-to-zoom-a-new-meaning-video/#commentsMIT's Glove Mouse brings new meaning to 'pinch to zoom' (video) We never cease to be amazed by the number of projects spawned from that one scene in Minority Report where Tom Cruise goes massively multitouch, but we'll also never tire of seeing those projects in action. The latest is the Glove Mouse from Tony Hyun Kim and Nevada Sanchez at MIT and, while they've been on the project for some time (winning the school's George C. Newton Project Prize in 2009 for their work), they've recently made the gloves wireless and posted some photos and videos. Each glove sports an LED on the back of the index finger, picked up by a low-res webcam to act like a cursor, along with buttons under the index and middle fingers activated by the thumb. It's a little like Wiimote meets Peregrine and the result has a lot of potential to say the least. Click on through for a rocking video demonstration, but be sure to dust off those Guitar Hero controllers before you do.

[Thanks, Nebada]

Continue reading Glove Mouse project gives 'pinch to zoom' a new meaning (video)

Glove Mouse project gives 'pinch to zoom' a new meaning (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>glove mouseGloveMouseminority reportMinorityReportmitmousemultitouchnevada sanchezNevadaSancheztony hyun kimTonyHyunKimvideoWed, 31 Mar 2010 08:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Tromso students put together the best interactive display wall we've seen yet (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/tromso-students-put-together-the-best-interactive-display-wall-w/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/tromso-students-put-together-the-best-interactive-display-wall-w/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/tromso-students-put-together-the-best-interactive-display-wall-w/#comments Take everything you thought you knew about multitouch and throw it out. Okay, keep the Minority Report stuff, but throw everything else out. What we're looking at here is a 22 megapixel display, stitched together from the output of no less than 28 projectors (7,168 x 3,072 total resolution), which just happens to respond to touch-like input in a fashion even Tom Cruise would find fascinating. You don't have to actually touch the wall, floor-mounted cameras pick up your gestures in 2D space and a 30-node computer setup crunches all the computational and visual data to deliver some buttery smooth user interaction. For demo purposes, the makers of this system grabbed a 13.3 gigapixel image of Tromso and took it for a hand-controlled spin. See the mesmerizing show on video after the break.

Continue reading Tromso students put together the best interactive display wall we've seen yet (video)

Tromso students put together the best interactive display wall we've seen yet (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>display wallDisplayWallgestural computinggestural interfaceGesturalComputingGesturalInterfacegesturegesturesgigapixelinteraction spaces systemInteractionSpacesSysteminteractiveinteractive wallInteractiveWallminority reportMinorityReportmultitouchprojectorprojectorstromsouniversityuniversity of tromsoUniversityOfTromsovideowallwallscopeWed, 24 Mar 2010 07:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Fujitsu's Air Command Plus guides PowerPoint, not B-52s (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/13/fujitsus-air-command-plus-guides-powerpoint-not-b-52s-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/13/fujitsus-air-command-plus-guides-powerpoint-not-b-52s-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/13/fujitsus-air-command-plus-guides-powerpoint-not-b-52s-video/#commentsFujitsu's Air Command Plus guides PowerPoint, not B-52s (video) Multitouch is great and all, but what if you can't reach the screen? What if you could touch without touching? That's the idea behind Fujitsu's Air Command Plus, a device that promises a Minority Report-like experience but, after watching the video below, it sure seems like pretty standard gesture control. You can browse through pictures by flicking left or right, adjust a volume dial by rotating, and navigate PowerPoint slides as if you were a master of the black arts. But there's nothing metaphysical about it, and it's destined to get a lot more real in March when Fujitsu is actually pledging to ship the thing. Eat your heart out, Tom Cruise.

[Thanks, Hanco]

Continue reading Fujitsu's Air Command Plus guides PowerPoint, not B-52s (video)

Fujitsu's Air Command Plus guides PowerPoint, not B-52s (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerometerair command plusAirCommandPlusfujitsufujitsu air command plusFujitsuAirCommandPlusgesture controlGestureControlminority reportMinorityReportpowerpointremote controlRemoteControlSat, 13 Feb 2010 17:21:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT gestural computing makes multitouch look old hat]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/mit-gestural-computing-makes-multitouch-look-old-hat/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/mit-gestural-computing-makes-multitouch-look-old-hat/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/mit-gestural-computing-makes-multitouch-look-old-hat/#comments Ah, the MIT Media Lab, home to Big Bird's illegitimate progeny, augmented reality projects aplenty, and now three-dimensional gestural computing. The new bi-directional display being demoed by the Cambridge-based boffins performs both multitouch functions that we're familiar with and hand movement recognition in the space in front of the screen -- which we're also familiar with, but mostly from the movies. The gestural motion tracking is done via embedded optical sensors behind the display, which are allowed to see what you're doing by the LCD alternating rapidly (invisible to the human eye, but probably not to human pedantry) between what it's displaying to the viewer and a pattern for the camera array. This differs from projects like Natal, which have the camera offset from the display and therefore cannot work at short distances, but if you want even more detail, you'll find it in the informative video after the break.

[Thanks, Rohit]

Continue reading MIT gestural computing makes multitouch look old hat

MIT gestural computing makes multitouch look old hat originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bidibidi screenBidiScreencameracomputer inputComputerInputembeddedembedded optical sensorEmbeddedOpticalSensorgestural computinggestural interfaceGesturalComputingGesturalInterfacegesturegesturesinputmedia labMediaLabminority reportMinorityReportmitmit media labMitMediaLabmotionmotion sensingMotionSensingopticaloptical sensorOpticalSensorresearchFri, 11 Dec 2009 05:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony and Atracsys develop 3D interface for ORs, sci-fi franchises (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/06/sony-and-atracsys-develop-3d-interface-for-ors-sci-fi-franchise/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/06/sony-and-atracsys-develop-3d-interface-for-ors-sci-fi-franchise/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/06/sony-and-atracsys-develop-3d-interface-for-ors-sci-fi-franchise/#comments
You know what the world needs? Another company peddling their take on the touch interface as being "just like Minority Report!" Sun, Raytheon, Oblong -- it's a pretty obvious press hook (as well as a pretty awesome area of research), but every once in a while some such technology does come around that begs for a closer look. A collaboration between Sony Europe and Atracsys (a Swiss company specializing in optical tracking) ICU is a dual camera-based system that tracks and analyzes body movements in three dimensions, in real-time. Initially designed for use with a computer in a sterile operating theater, the interface not only notices subtle changes in the position of your body, arm, hand, or finger position, but it's also determine rough age, sex, or facial expression of the user. We're guessing that this bad boy has some novel gaming potential as well (count on the folks at Engadget to bring everything down to their level)! PR / videos after the break.

Continue reading Sony and Atracsys develop 3D interface for ORs, sci-fi franchises (video)

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Sony and Atracsys develop 3D interface for ORs, sci-fi franchises (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sometimes it seems like the worlds of science and marketing are in a constant struggle to present us with the future described in science fiction. Whether its flying cars, the OS from Minority Report, or robots that play "rock, paper, scissors," the old saw is true: you can't fight progress. And now it looks like Yahoo Japan has jumped into the fray, with a little help from Comel, a Japanese company that manufactures billboards. The two firms are collaborating on electronic signage that photographs passersby, analyses it using NEC's facial analysis technology, and guesstimates his or her age. Once the demo is confirmed, the device spits out appropriate advertising content. According to the poorly translated press release, the "face image data" is then erased, saving only a record of the passerby's age and sex -- so you Civil Libertarians can rest easily. Right.

[Via Trading Markets]

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Yahoo Japan plans facial recognizing, content personalizing billboards originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you've been waiting for that Minority Report-style interface to really come to fruition, you can finally exhale. One of the science advisors from the Steven Spielberg film -- along with a team of other zany visionaries -- has created an honest-to-goodness, real-world implementation of the computer systems seen in the movie. Dubbed g-speak, the mind bending OS combines "gestural i/o, recombinant networking, and real-world pixels," to deliver what the creators call "the first major step in [a] computer interface since 1984." There are some things that need to seen to be understood, so watch the video after the break, and prepare to have your mind thoroughly blown to bits.

[Thanks, Jamie]

Continue reading Oblong's g-speak: the 'Minority Report' OS brought to life

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Oblong's g-speak: the 'Minority Report' OS brought to life originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Do you enjoy gangs of tiny, spider-like robot insectoids swarming all over your house, car, or personage? If you answered "yes," you're going to love what BAE Systems is cooking up. The company recently received an infusion of $38 million from the US Army Research Lab to fund the Micro Autonomous Systems and Technology (MAST) consortium; a team of scientists and researchers hell-bent on developing an "autonomous, multifunctional collection of miniature intelligence-gathering robots that can operate in places too inaccessible or dangerous for humans." Sure, that description (and accompanying photos, straight from BAE) does give you the impression that whoever came up with this really liked Minority Report, but won't it make you feel safer at night knowing a swarm of metallic spiders are looking out for you? No? Huh, weird.

[Via The Register]

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BAE Systems working on spider-bots, other ways to scare you to death originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 May 2008 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's far from the first Minority Report-like interface to make the rounds, but that doesn't seem to have prevented the massive setup pictured above from drawing a crowd at CeBIT, which one attendee thankfully captured on video. As you can see for yourself after the break, the rig lets you do all the usual moving, flipping and resizing, without the need for pesky gloves or silly headgear. Needless to say, there's no indication as to where this particular bit of technology is headed next, but it seems safe to assume that it'll become a fixture of trade shows for years to come.

Continue reading Minority Report-like interface gets demoed at CeBIT

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Minority Report-like interface gets demoed at CeBIT originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Our new hero Johnny Chung Lee has already put the Wiimote to use for various multi-touch and multi-point systems (not to mention head-tracking), but it looks like others are slowly starting to follow in his footsteps, and the folks at Cynergy Labs have now produced one of the most polished "hacks" to date. Dubbed Project Maestro, the setup is built upon Microsoft's Windows Presentation System (or WPF) and uses a pair of Minority Report-style IR gloves to give you "multi-touch at a distance." That, as you can see in the video after the break, allows for an interface not unlike Microsoft's Surface -- without the "surface," of course. Unlike Johnny Lee's projects, however, the goods behind this one aren't available to the public just yet (for free or otherwise), but hopefully that'll change before too long.

[Thanks, Henry]

Continue reading Wiimote re-purposed for glove-based multi-touch system

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Wiimote re-purposed for glove-based multi-touch system originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What happens when you combine Sun's Small Programmable Object Technology with its Project Looking Glass 3D user interface environment, and add a glove with an accelerometer? Apparently, the second third attempt at the early 21st century's equivalent of Minority Report's glove based user interface, with a demo video showing an operator browsing a desktop using simply hand and finger motions. There's a pretty noticeable lag, the system still uses a mouse pointer, and the operator obviously has to stand dead still for it to work, but this is probably the closest anyone has come to emulating the geek dream that is the pre-crime memory navigator that Tom Cruise evangelized in the film. It's about time that someone figured out a system that could replace the humble mouse: unfortunately, this is only a baby step towards that goal.

[Via sLists; thanks, akhel]

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Sun's SPOT: a poor man's Minority Report interface originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Oct 2007 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AccelerometerMinority ReportMinorityReportSPOTSunSun, 21 Oct 2007 07:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Neuroscientists read people's intentions with brain scan]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/neuroscientists-read-peoples-intentions-with-brain-scan/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/neuroscientists-read-peoples-intentions-with-brain-scan/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/neuroscientists-read-peoples-intentions-with-brain-scan/#commentsMinority Report has proven itself to be a fairly prescient movie on more than one occasion and, as this latest development shows, it seems that researchers haven't mined those Dickian ideas dry just yet. While we've already seen some software that supposedly helped to predict future crimes, The Guardian is now reporting that a team of neuroscientists have brought pre-crime technology to a new, even creepier level, developing a brain scan that can purportedly read people's intentions before they act on them. It's apparently still a ways off from going into service, however, with tests of the technology currently centered around predicting a subject's response to a simple math question. Nonetheless, the researchers seem to be well aware of the technology's potentially more complex uses, and are calling for an ethical debate over its possible use in interrogation. On the flipside, they also see the technology eventually being used in some less ethically-challenging applications, such as helping people control artificial limbs or operate a computer simply by thinking about it.

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Neuroscientists read people's intentions with brain scan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Depending on your perspective, SNL could go either way on quality tonight, as Antonio Banderas fills in the guest host spot vacated by last week's Scarlett Johanssen.


Our traditional high-def listings continue below

Continue reading HDTV Listings for April 8, 2006

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HDTV Listings for April 8, 2006 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Apr 2006 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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German researchers develop another transparent OLED technique originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 Apr 2006 22:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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