Disney MotionBeam weds Pico projection with motion control

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(Credit: Disney Research)

Remember the rifle-styled controller-cum-Pico projector we featured in late 2009? Here we've another similar implementation from Disney Research called the MotionBeam utilizing handheld Pico projectors. The contraption, however, consists of an iPod touch and motion sensing unit, though the latter is somewhat redundant in our opinion, considering the gyroscope-equipped Apple gadget.

(Credit: Disney Research)

Still, the MotionBeam is supposed to deliver a slew of functions ranging from basic motion control to advanced user interaction as illustrated above. The following is how Disney sees the future:

"We envision a future where tiny, bright and power-efficient projectors are embedded into devices throughout the environment. Combined with ubiquitous sensing and always-on connection to the Internet, these devices will be used for both work and play. Handheld projectors will allow us to interact with digital content, participate in virtual worlds, and collaborate with others. They will enable dynamic augmentation of the environment with intelligent imagery and will even be used to control and actuate physical objects. MotionBeam is our first step to explore this vision and make it a reality."

There's just one fundamental issue in my opinion: Whether there will be an appropriate light technology that provides sufficient brightness for such applications in a small package.

Via Ubergizmo
Philip Wong
About the author

Philip Wong is an A/V, PC, photography and gaming enthusiast. Besides spending countless days and late nights fiddling with his home theater system and watercooled PC, he also hits the roads frequently on his iron horse to sweat it out. Now, who says geeks don't work out?

Philip Wong, Associate Editor

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