What if, instead of a touch screen, you could reach out and touch (and manipulate) an image on any surface? Seems like a cheapskate alternative to buying a touch-screen white board to me.
Japanese company Funai Electric is setting up to do just that. They’ve created an alternative to the standard touch screen, using a projector that is capable of creating the functionality of said screen on any surface. The projector uses a system of laser light and sensors to tell when an object (say a finger) has been placed over the image, allowing a user to manipulate the image using gestures. The projected image is decidedly low resolution, so it may not be a complete replacement for the Microsoft Surface technology, but it could be a budget alternative.
The projector is currently just a prototype, but the company developing it has stated that they hope to have a commercial version available as soon as early 2010.
sounds like it still needs alot of work. its also kind of hard to manipulate an object when its projected on the back of your hand.
If this should be developed so that it dependably works, it could be a mouse replacement. I am having a hard time believing that touch screens will not be a flop in that I don’t want my fat, greasy finger prints all over my screen. This gizmo could be placed in a comfortable position for serious work…if it works.