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[Invisible iPhone prototype puts the 'hand' back in 'handset' (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/invisible-iphone-prototype-puts-the-hand-back-in-handset-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/invisible-iphone-prototype-puts-the-hand-back-in-handset-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/invisible-iphone-prototype-puts-the-hand-back-in-handset-vi/#comments Not too long ago, the invisible iPhone was nothing more than satirical fodder for the Onion. Now, Patrick Baudisch and his team of researchers at the Hasso-Plattner Institute have moved closer to making it a reality, with a new interface that can essentially transfer an iPhone touchscreen to the palm of your hand. The device involves an Xbox-like depth camera, mounted on a tripod, that can register the movements of a person's finger across his or her palm. Special software then determines the actions these gestures would execute on a user's iPhone, before transmitting the commands to a physical phone, via WiFi radio. Unlike MIT's motion-based "sixth sense" interface, Baudisch's imaginary phone doesn't require users to learn a new dictionary of gestures, but relies solely on the muscle memory that so many smartphone users have developed. During their research, Baudisch and his colleagues found that iPhone owners could accurately determine the position of two-thirds of their apps on their palms, without even looking at their device. At the moment, the prototype still involves plenty of bulky equipment, but Baudisch hopes to eventually incorporate a smaller camera that users could wear more comfortably -- allowing them to answer their imaginary phones while doing the dishes and to spend hours chatting with their imaginary friends. Head past the break to see the prototype in action.

Continue reading Invisible iPhone prototype puts the 'hand' back in 'handset' (video)

Invisible iPhone prototype puts the 'hand' back in 'handset' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 May 2011 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsdepth cameraDepthCameraDisplaygermanyHasso Plattner InstituteHassoPlattnerInstituteimaginaryimaginary phoneImaginaryPhoneinterfaceinvisibleinvisible iphoneinvisible phoneInvisibleIphoneInvisiblePhoneiphonemotionmotion basedMotionBasedmuscle memoryMuscleMemoryPatrick BaudischPatrickBaudischprototyperesearchsixth senseSixthSensetouchscreenvideowifiWifiRadioxboxMon, 23 May 2011 09:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest SixthSense demo features paper 'laptop,' camera gestures]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/latest-sixthsense-demo-features-paper-laptop-camera-gestures/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/latest-sixthsense-demo-features-paper-laptop-camera-gestures/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/latest-sixthsense-demo-features-paper-laptop-camera-gestures/#comments We've already seen MIT researcher Pranav Mistry's SixthSense projector-based augmented-reality system in some cool demos, but he just gave a TED talk and his latest ideas are the wildest yet. Forget simple projections, he's moved on to taking photos by just making a box with your fingers, identifying books and products on store shelves and projecting reviews and other information on them, projecting flight schedules on boarding passes, and even a new paper "laptop" concept that works by using a microphone on the paper to sense when you're touching it. It's pretty amazing stuff -- check out his whole talk at the read link.

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Latest SixthSense demo features paper 'laptop,' camera gestures originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>augmented realityAugmentedRealitycameragesturegesturespranav mistryPranavMistryprojectorsixth senseSixthSenseWed, 18 Nov 2009 20:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Sixth Sense creator to release code, wearable gesture interface becomes a reality for all]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/07/sixth-sense-creator-to-release-code-wearable-gesture-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/07/sixth-sense-creator-to-release-code-wearable-gesture-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/07/sixth-sense-creator-to-release-code-wearable-gesture-interface/#commentsIf we're being honest (and trust us, we're being honest), Pranav Mistry's Sixth Sense contraption has always baffled us. It's kind of like Sony's Rolly. It looks cool, it sounds rad, but we're fairly certain only 2.49 people actually know and fully comprehend how it works. That said, we're more than jazzed about the possibility of having wearable gesture interfaces gracing every human we come into contact with, and rather than attempting to make his invention "comply with some kind of corporate policy," he's purportedly aiming to release the source code into the wild in order to let "people make their own systems." Nice guy, huh? All told, the Sixth Sense can be built for around $350 (plus oodles of unpaid time off), and we're pretty certain that a few talented DIYers can get this thing whipped into shape far quicker than Mega Corp X. So, how's about a release date for that code?

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Sixth Sense creator to release code, wearable gesture interface becomes a reality for all originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>augmented realityAugmentedRealityindiaMITopen sourceOpenSourceSixth SenseSixthSenseTEDSat, 07 Nov 2009 10:12:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT's "sixth sense" augmented reality device demonstrated on video]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/06/mits-sixth-sense-augmented-reality-demonstrated-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/06/mits-sixth-sense-augmented-reality-demonstrated-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/06/mits-sixth-sense-augmented-reality-demonstrated-on-video/#comments
We've got ourselves some video of MIT's new "sixth sense" project, which really helps explain the concept. MIT basically plans to augment reality with a pendant picoprojector: hold up an object at the store and the device blasts relevant information onto it (like environmental stats, for instance), which can be browsed and manipulated with hand gestures. The "sixth sense" in question is the internet, which naturally supplies the data, and that can be just about anything -- MIT has shown off the device projecting information about a person you meet at a party on that actual person (pictured), projecting flight status on a boarding pass, along with an entire non-contextual interface for reading email or making calls. It's pretty interesting technology, that, like many MIT Media Lab projects, makes the wearer look like a complete dork -- if the projector doesn't give it away, the colored finger bands the device uses to detect finger motion certainly might. There are patents already in the works for the technology, which the MIT folks have been working on "night and day" for the past four months, and we're guessing (and hoping) this isn't the last we'll see of this stuff. Video is after the break.

Continue reading MIT's "sixth sense" augmented reality device demonstrated on video

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MIT's "sixth sense" augmented reality device demonstrated on video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>augmented realityAugmentedRealitymedia labMediaLabmitmit media labMitMediaLabpico projectorPicoProjectorprojectorsixth senseSixthSensevideoFri, 06 Feb 2009 09:43:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT concocts wearable "sixth sense" device, Bruce Willis is like "what?"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/mit-concocts-wearable-sixth-sense-device-bruce-willis-is-like/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/mit-concocts-wearable-sixth-sense-device-bruce-willis-is-like/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/mit-concocts-wearable-sixth-sense-device-bruce-willis-is-like/#commentsWe've nothing but respect for the researchers, engineers and all around brainacs that call MIT home, but unless our minds are simply too feeble to grasp the connection here, we can't figure how this "sixth sense" device actually relates to one of Bruce Willis' most well known films. At any rate, what we do have here is a wearable device that is comprised of a mobile projector, a webcam and a cellphone -- a package that was thrown together for around $300. Once strapped on, signals from the webcam and projector are relayed to internet-connected smartphones in order to project data onto basically any backdrop. Somehow, the device can even "take photographs if a user frames a scene with his or her hands, or project a watch face with the proper time on a wrist if the user makes a circle there with a finger." The actual hows and whys seem to be a mystery, but if we had just developed a gizmo as ripe for commercialization as this, we'd probably keep most of the secrets under wraps as well.

[Via Blorge]

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MIT concocts wearable "sixth sense" device, Bruce Willis is like "what?" originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>inventionMITmobile projectorMobileProjectorresearchsixth senseSixthSenseuniversitywebcamThu, 05 Feb 2009 13:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Creation adds sixth sense for WiFi hotspots]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/16/creation-adds-sixth-sense-for-wifi-hotspots/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/16/creation-adds-sixth-sense-for-wifi-hotspots/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/16/creation-adds-sixth-sense-for-wifi-hotspots/#comments
We know, there are (supposedly) folks out there with the ingrained ability to sense wireless networks without any mechanical assistance whatsoever, but considering that we can't all live next door to Kate Figes, the rest of us mere mortals need a bit of manmade aid. Enter the WiFi Heartbeat, a custom built sensor / vibration device that autonomously sniffs out WiFi signals, determines the signal strength, and sends a pulsing signal to you based on just how close the hotspot is. The creator states that all you'll need is a "microcontroller, some custom interface electronics, a small vibe motor, and an off-the-shelf WiFi detector," and if you've given mildly difficult DIY endeavors a go before, we can't imagine this one causing too much strife. For those of you still on the fence, be sure to hit the read link for all the details you'd need to craft your own, and click on through for the video demonstration.

[Via MAKE]

Continue reading Creation adds sixth sense for WiFi hotspots

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Creation adds sixth sense for WiFi hotspots originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d-linkdiyhackheartbeathotspothow-tointernetledmicrocontrollermodsensorsensorssixth senseSixthSensesniffertouchwifiwifi sensewifi snifferWifiSenseWifiSnifferFri, 16 Mar 2007 09:30:00 EST