Computers

Ubi brings touchscreen functionality to any projection surface

Ubi brings touchscreen functionality to any projection surface
Ubi gets tried out at California Polytechnic State University
Ubi gets tried out at California Polytechnic State University
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Ubi is a new piece of software that works with a video projector, a Kinect for Windows depth sensor and a PC running Windows 8, to turn any projection surface into a touchscreen
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Ubi is a new piece of software that works with a video projector, a Kinect for Windows depth sensor and a PC running Windows 8, to turn any projection surface into a touchscreen
When it registers your finger or hand reaching into the frame, Ubi simply mimics that same movement as if it was a finger movement on the corresponding part of the computer’s screen
2/3
When it registers your finger or hand reaching into the frame, Ubi simply mimics that same movement as if it was a finger movement on the corresponding part of the computer’s screen
Ubi gets tried out at California Polytechnic State University
3/3
Ubi gets tried out at California Polytechnic State University
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If you’re someone who does a lot of presentations in front of images projected onto a wall, do you ever wish that you could manipulate those images with your fingers? If so, well, now you can. Ubi is a new piece of software that works with a video projector, a Kinect for Windows depth sensor and a PC running Windows 8, to turn any projection surface into a touchscreen.

Ubi (not to be confused with the computer of the same name) runs on a PC that’s supplying the projected video, and monitors the projected image via the linked Kinect. Apparently any projector and any surface (such as a table top) will do, as long as the image is sufficiently bright.

Ubi is a new piece of software that works with a video projector, a Kinect for Windows depth sensor and a PC running Windows 8, to turn any projection surface into a touchscreen
Ubi is a new piece of software that works with a video projector, a Kinect for Windows depth sensor and a PC running Windows 8, to turn any projection surface into a touchscreen

When it registers your finger or hand reaching into the frame, Ubi simply mimics that same movement as if it was a finger movement on the corresponding part of the computer’s screen – for example, if you reach in and physically swipe at a specific box that's projected onto the wall, Ubi will digitally “swipe” that same box on the computer, causing its projected image to move with your hand.

Ubi was developed by Seattle-based startup Ubi Interactive, for Microsoft. It is available now, in four versions. The Basic program, which allows for one finger-only touch point and a projected image up to 45 inches (114 cm) in size, sells for US$149 per PC. At the other end of the scale, the Enterprise version supports up to 20 finger or hand touch points and a 100-inch (254 cm) display, and goes for $1,499.

Projected interactive displays are something that various groups have been trying to develop for the past few years. Other projects have included OmniTouch, Light Touch, and the LuminAR Bulb.

The Ubi system is demonstrated in the video below.

Source: Ubi Interactive via CNET

Ubi Interactive: Turn any surface into a touch screen

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2 comments
2 comments
Louis Alain Desire Bastien
This is great !!
PaulDooh
Have a look at http://www.touchlesstouch.com it's been around for a while and is essentially the same solution, but only $60, supports 128 touch points, works with kinect and Primesense / Openni devices and supports over 200" displays.