Come in out of the large open spaces, where you risk inevitable attacks from throngs of flying ninjas, and have a look at the near possibility of how we will be interfacing with virtual objects in the future.
3D space is a pretty big area to be manipulating like a clump of old clay, but you whack that space down to a defined volume within the tightly wound wavelengths of a friendly frequency and suddenly, you’re moving junk around in 3D space with your hand. Check this out.
During Siggraph08, ShinodaLabs debuted their Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display, a physical force-feedback system that uses a transducer array and ultrasound to create a variable pressure field against a person hand. No gloves, no devices, just your hands. The interruptions in the very fine, ultrasound frequency allow the user to manipulate objects within the 3D space above the transducer.
Due to the ultrasound radiated from the transducer array, acoustic radiation pressure is exerted on the user’s skin. Each transducer on the array is driven so that the emitted ultrasound produces a single focal point. The camera measures the position of the hand and the tactile feedback is provided when the hand is in contact with the virtual object. – Shinodalabs
The future of the 3D CAD interface
Yeah, so this is kinda freaking me out cause I just wrote an article in the upcoming Develop3D about the future of the CAD interface and how multi-touch will, and will not, play a role in how we create our products in a virtually adaptive design environment. You’ll have to read the article, but all I can say is that a display, as we know it, won’t be needed either.
Here’s a (somewhat boring) video that show the system in action.
Much Like The Theremin
This uses the same principles as the very first 3-dimensional hands-free ‘multi-touch’ device created back in 1919, the Theremin. A Theremin is the earliest known electronic musical instrument. The player controls frequency (pitch) and volume in 3-dimensional space by disrupting magnetic fields with their hands to create sound. Sounds fun huh.
Here’s a (somewhat annoying) video of a Theremin being played.
The Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display from ShinodaLabs takes this concept of frequency modulation one pace toward brilliant and gives the user physical feedback of the virtual object, which could range in applications from surgical procedures to product design or even interactive experiences via games and video.
What’s your opinion about all this? The way we work now doesn’t make this seem feasible, but the interface is not the only piece of technology that is going to change in the future. Will we need a mouse and keyboard in the future? How are displays going to change?
ShinodaLab Via Gizmodo
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SolidSmack is a very small behemoth of an online community about 3D CAD, technology, design, robots, and ninjas… Ok, maybe not ninjas so much, but those guys are COOL so there just might be something about some dang ninjas.
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I loved the article on Develop3D …… and the videos here aren't that boring after all
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyF_UN8g9f0
less annoying video…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXc_OvTpOLA
Even less annoying video.. Gotta love late 90s post pub television for really noisey bands LIVE on TV.. saw these guys support the beastie boys.. when they'd finished, people thought,
“damnnnn.. who's gonna top this.?”
Josh you are right on. I personally think that touch/motion UI's are going to be in our future. And probably more important to that future than most anything else we can do for the user. – Jon
hhaha, man spencer is insane. I can see those kids flippin' out while he's all lickin' and shakin his butt at the Theremin rod. HA!
It's weird to think about. the interface isn't the only thing that changes. everything compounded, simplified, consolidated… even the programming/api side is going to open up a lot of ideas about how a product goes from engineering to manufacturing to consumer. fun times for sure.
woot – with this takes VR a big step ahead, because you don't need to be attached to some bulky equipment – extremely cool development!!!
Now you need a similar development as Wacom did by combining the graphics tablet into the flatscreen to directly draw on the monitor. Instead of a monitor add some kind of 3d-hologramm projector (already available but expensive) so the ultrasound forcefield excactly overlaps with a 3d-image and taadaa u get some virtual matter that is deformed in reality. If u think about it this would be damn close to holo-decks from the Star Trek Universe (except for size and dimension ).
Also think about the endless possibilities for GUIs – no more keyboard – at least not physical. You could use different designs and skins for your keyboards and any other pointing and manipulation devices! You could design the interfaces of your every software to your very liking and create and arrange as many (ultrasound) buttons and keys you need around you in any pattern or layout – no more restricting taskbars or ribbons etc. etc. etc.!
woot – with this takes VR a big step ahead, because you don't need to be attached to some bulky equipment – extremely cool development!!!
Now you need a similar development as Wacom did by combining the graphics tablet into the flatscreen to directly draw on the monitor. Instead of a monitor add some kind of 3d-hologramm projector (already available but expensive) so the ultrasound forcefield excactly overlaps with a 3d-image and taadaa u get some virtual matter that is deformed in reality. If u think about it this would be damn close to holo-decks from the Star Trek Universe (except for size and dimension ).
Also think about the endless possibilities for GUIs – no more keyboard – at least not physical. You could use different designs and skins for your keyboards and any other pointing and manipulation devices! You could design the interfaces of your every software to your very liking and create and arrange as many (ultrasound) buttons and keys you need around you in any pattern or layout – no more restricting taskbars or ribbons etc. etc. etc.!
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