A couple of holographic-y type of displays shown from MS Research

First up from Microsoft Research is called TeleHuman, and it aims to display a person like they are standing right in front of you. It captures the person's image using 6 Kinect devices and projects the image onto a cylinder via a 3D projector. All of those kinect devices capture the demonstrator from every angle so you can walk around the cylinder as if it were a real person. A second team is using the same tech for its BodiPod application, where various layers of the human body can be revealed in real time. Maybe they are getting ready for an X-ray version of Kinect.




Next up is called the Mirage Table. The goal of Mirage Table is to simulate interaction with the user as if they are sitting in front of you. The tools are a curved screen that merges with the table, a Kinect capture device, and a 3D projector. This is neat and Microsoft research has done some similar things in the past, but this combines several ideas into one, more practical one. You have to use your imagination while watching the video because the interaction objects are supposed float in virtual space in front ofthe viewer. Without 3D glasses and the actual viewer's perspective, you just can't get the same effect.

The Ariel TL1 simulator features the world's first 180° wrap-around screen for gaming / sumulation

Fusing three curved screens together to achieve a serious 5760×1200 resolution, the TL1 simulator from car maker Ariel (of the Atom race car on a budget fame) and Motion Simulation does a lot um, simulating. It is also adaptable for flight simulation and includes motion transducers for the seat to react to the environment. It includes all of the steering, pedals, levers, and such for your driving or flying needs. The cost for the TL1 is a measly £11,500 ($18,650). Since most of us can't afford a simulator of that price tag, feel free to go ahead and trade in your current real-world vehicle or get a financing option.

Check out the video and some more screens:

Microsoft Research "flexes" wearable EMG muscle input through patent

They say that the US government is always at least 20-30 years ahead of the rest of civilization in technology. That must put Microsoft Research somewhere right in between. What could be done with such a device?.... How about some interaction with the previous wearable HMD glasses patent? There is actually quite a bit that can be done with such sensors. How about a video from Microsoft Research and their partners back in 2010?

Video games on the brain

2 Cornell University electrical engineering students (Chuck Moyes and Mengxiang Jiang) have cooked up a way to play OG video game Pong without interacting physically at all.