MIT's 6th Sense device could trump Apple's multitouch

MIT Media Lab graduate student Pranav Mistry demonstrates the Wear Ur World device, which would free data from the confines of paper or screen.

(Credit: MIT)

Step aside, Apple and Microsoft. If MIT's little Sixth Sense gadget sees the commercial light of day, we can toss our multitouch devices out the window. Who needs a Surface or an iPhone when the very idea of being able to access information by turning any flat surface into a touch-screen display sounds far more appealing? No surface available? Simply project a screen onto your hand, and voila. Shades of Minority Report?

In Minority Report, Tom Cruise draws information from a glove-controlled interactive wall.

(Credit: 20th Century Fox)

The folks at MIT have christened their wearable prototype Wear Ur World (WUW), a device cobbled together using everyday gizmos like a mobile projector, Webcam, and mobile phone. Hopefully, when the final product does ship, it'll reveal a sleeker, less clunky rendition without the colored finger bands, and one that has a discreet mode for when you need to access information privately.

As a demonstration of its capabilities, the wearer can draw a circle on his wrist, prompting the gadget to project a digital clock face, especially great for the myopic.

In the near future, WUW could become an indispensible digital wrist companion to enhance your lifestyle. It could provide product and price comparison information when shopping, retrieve flight information to let the wearer know about delays, automatically pull up related information from the Web when requested, and even snap pictures when you frame a subject with your fingers.

Too bad the Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) Web site hasn't yet uploaded a video of Dr Pattie Mae's recent TED presentation. Fortunately, here's one from Wired.com.

(Via Crave Asia)

[sdf0013]

This ranks up there with cool and a little scary at the same time. The the recent advancements in DLP technology (those really small projectors that can fit into a cell phone) I could see this becoming a reality in less than 2 years. But how would you build this into some kind of device to allow personal viewing of information as well like the article asks?

[Noneyabeeswax]

A special pair of glasses? Or a shaded personal blank micro projection screen?

[ZiegSilver]

Indeed man, Recent advancements in DLP have led many photographers to revolution in their industry.
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[dascha1]

It's a b(ear) commercial folks... For those who need a 16' x 4' display system the architects most likely will award it to chalkboard makers for now. I think the idea is timely since we all need a boost from the normalization of visuals but a flash-light is probably going to be more effective for us in the dark until a P2P compromise will be settled (i.e. shielding your display from my display and possibly separating audio as well).

[wavjockey]

As a guy who is NOT impressed with the iPhone or Touch,
the 6th Sense WUW blows me away; even more so than the Surface.

There is finally a future technology that I am actually excited about.

[michaelportent]

This is brutally awesome. I look forward to the day when it becomes commonplace tech in the consumer realm.

[jumpjetta]

Hmm, gee... if I'm projecting my data on the subway wall, isn't it a little visible to anyone else?

[Vegaman_Dan]

Excuse me, you have got your photos in my datebook, sir.

[kboateng]

This is the type of stuff that i've been waiting for all my life. Thank you MIT...I can't wait til this becomes commonplace.

[CyStarkman]

About 15 years behind the times. But still the most impressive.

And just before you all start moaning. The iPhone is nearly 20 years behind the times

[slacker15]

And the internet is 50 years behind, and the automobile is 500 years behind. This Technology is mindblowing! Imagine the uses for district managers, like the ability to give mobile interactive presentations on the go. Even tattoo artists can use this to become more effective! I can't wait to be able to share all my experiences (or data if I'm working) with people wherever I go.

[cmfnyc]

As a research endeavor, I think it's fascinating. But commercially viable? I think we're a few years away. I'm all into gadgets, but I'm not likely to walk around with my fingers "painted" and a either the neckbound or cap-based cameras. I think artists could make sure of this device to create live, digital art in unique places. Paint on the Great Wall...without running afoul of the Chinese government?

[NervClaX]

Mass transit will be my only option once this thing hits the streets. Drivers have enough tech to distract them already, thank you very much.

[SeanDuffy]

tisk tisk, this could project road conditions, gps, trafic and emergency notifications on your windshield. ever heard of a Heads Up Display (HUD)?

[The Wiethoff]

I fear the day that I pull up next to someone at a stoplight with one of those things but still trying to drive.

[jasonaorr]

I think this technology, though really cool, has limited applications. Personal computing is going mobile, and I don't see how projection + hand gestures jives with that. Apparently you need sensors attached to different fingers (I only watched the video), and those would be awkward to pull quickly on and off for short sessions. Waving your heads in the air is also not very energy efficient -- personally I like to be able to navigate through data from a relaxed position. Again, this is all really cool stuff, and I'm sure it can be put to use somewhere, but I don't see this trumping multi-touch portable technologies any time soon.

[imransuhail]

hey guys... i didt like the colored finger thing too... even if its a cap... but im sure they can use other ways to make the system recognize fingers... one way would be RFID implants into fingers which i dont think most would like... secondly if you have enough processing power, the systen can record and store a 3d image of your hand and thus recognize your fingers so you wont have to need any other way to indentify fingers.... anyway... i love the idea... although, if the projector and camera are in the same deivce wont that mean my hand movements might block the projector too? they demonstrator had the camera mounted on his cap... how is this going to work in one unit? i think it will need two units.

and oh... RFID per finger gloves would actually be my choice! :P

[anandkagarwal31]

Let me solve your "Finger Gloves/Cap" problem. You can wear colored Rings in your fingers. Would that be ok?

-Anand , Bangalore, India

[ZiegSilver]

Which I believe is true at the moment
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