Light Beam

Pico projectors have lately been investigated as mobile display and interaction devices. We propose to use them as ‘light beams’: Everyday objects sojourning in a beam are turned into dedicated projection surfaces and tangible interaction devices. While this has been explored for large projectors, the affordances of pico projectors are fundamentally different: they have a very small and strictly limited projection ray and can be carried around in a nomadic way during the day. Thus it is unclear how this could be actually leveraged for tangible interaction with physical, real world objects.

This is a joint work between Telecooperation Lab and FX Palo Alto Laboratory (FXPAL).

Please direct any questions or inquiries to the corresponding author, Jochen Huber.

Photoset on flickr.

English coverage:

• Engadget US: LightBeam pico projector turns any surface into a display, any object into a remote
• The Verge: LightBeam turns everyday objects into displays, controls
• Slashdot: Pico Projector Adapts To New Surfaces, Uses Random Objects As Input Devices
• gizmag: LightBeam makes any surface a projector display, and everyday objects a remote control
• Fellow GEEK: Augment Reality with cool new Lighbeam Pico Projector
• geek.com: LightBeam adds intelligent object interaction to pico projectors
• Ubergizmo: LightBeam pico projector turns any surface into a display
• PicoProjector-Info.com: LightBeam: a new research project that offers projected interaction with real world objects
• Tech-Stew: Any surface is a display, objects become remotes with LightBeam pico projector
• TFTS: LightBeam Pico Projector Turns Surfaces Into Screens, Random Motion Into Remote [LightBeam Pico Projector Uses Motion Controls To Serve As Remote, Offers Even More Unusual Features To Boot]
• AboutProjectors: Developers Unveil LightBeam Project
• Videomaker: Control Your Display By Learning the Ways of the LightBeam
• Stuff UK: Next Big Thing – LightBeam
• The Jane Dough: The LightBeam Projector Will Soon Be Saving You From Presentation Hell
• Geeky Gadgets: LightBeam Transforms Any Surface Into An Interactive Display
• PC & Tech Authority: Future tech: LightBeam

Other languages:

• Chip PL: Kartka papieru to twój wyświetlacz, a kubek to twoja myszka
• Gadzeto Mania PL: LightBeam – każda powierzchnia może być ekranem, a każdy przedmiot pilotem
• TechGear GR: LightBeam, η συσκευή που μετατρέπει καθημερινά αντικείμενα σε οθόνες και τηλεχειριστήρια
• Gizmologia ES: LightBeam: la tecnología que convierte en interactiva cualquier superficie
• Engadget ES: LightBeam, un pico proyector multi superficie capaz de transformar cualquier objeto en mando a distancia
• Engadget DE: LightBeam-Konzept erklärt jede Oberfläche zum Display, jedes Objekt zum Controller
• TechArena DE: LightBeam macht aus allen Gegenständen ein Display und nutzt sie zur Steuerung
• Engadget CN: LightBeam 微型投影机可追踪投影表面，还能侦测物体旋转遥控画面
• 36氪 CN: LightBeam能把任意物体的表面变成可被日常物件控制的屏幕
• MobileDevice RU: LightBeam превращает все поверхности в дисплеи
• InFuture.ru RU: Превратите любую поверхность в интерактивный дисплей с LightBeam
• MaxiSciences FR: LightBeam : un Pico projecteur affichant sur des objets du quotidien
• Tech in Side FR: LightBeam : le pico-projecteur qui s’adapte aux surfaces
• Gadget Report RO: Incredibilul LightBeam. Interactiunea video, intr-o noua dimensiune
• HDblog.it IT: LightBeam: pico proiettore che si adatta a qualsiasi superficie grazie a Kinect
• Engadget JP: なんでもスクリーンにするノマドなプロジェクター LightBeam

• Jochen Huber (Corresponding Author)
• Prof. Dr. Max Mühlhäuser

External:

• Dr. Jürgen Steimle (MIT Media Lab)
• Dr. Chunyuan Liao (FXPAL)
• Dr. Qiong Liu (FXPAL)
• Former students:
• Faheem Nadeem
• Fawaz Amjad Malik