Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a device that allows a user to transform virtually any surface into a multitouch computer. The name of this new technology is Project LuminAR, which is basically an embedded computer in a lamp. The LuminAR bulb contains a pico projector, a camera, and a computer with wireless connectivity - all packaged into an area not much larger than a digital camera. The LuminAR bulb uses a pico projector to display a computer interface (which would normally be seen on a liquid crystal display) onto any flat surface. A built-in camera detects and interprets movement from the user, and sends that data to the computer. The user can navigate and type on the interface using gestures and a graphical keyboard. This reduces the need for hardware such as a mouse, keyboard, and display that are necessities on any desktop or laptop PC. Another great feature of this device is that it plugs into a robotic lamp which has the ability to move around based on the user’s movements and gestures. The LuminAR bulb can also be installed in any household lamp.

Take a look at the original article from the IEEE here.

Devin Mullen

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