The intelligent tracking system of iBar detects all objects touching the surface. This input is used to let the projected content interact dynamically with the movements on the counter.

Yet another application already available, the illuminated connecting lines suggest to me an interesting comment on (or visualisation of) human interconectivity and interaction (plus it can certainly break some ice in a bar environment). And tha’s one of the features (and applications), while the system is expandable since virtual objects can be created and activated by the users to triger actions. Just say goodbye to the days you could pass something over the counter unnoticed..

You can find out more at http://www.i-bar.ch

Another great implementation of the “natural interactivity” principals out of the lab and soon to be patented and marketed, according to their site.
Having experienced its use already I must say I agree with their site’s statement “…(an) interactive medium that makes you smile“.

A “sensitive wall” and “sensitive table” are soon to follow. It seems that this is the next big wave by the abundance and frequency of such projects lately, and rightly so I believe.

It’s time (most probably long due) we had technology reaching out to people rather than having them striving to adopt to machine like thinking to be able to interact.

The official site is at http://www.sensitivefloor.com/ for more …

PlayAnywhere is a prototype interactive display surface that transforms any ordinary surface, such as a table or whiteboard, into an interactive input/output surface.
Computer vision technology is used to sense when the user touches the surface and to reason about other objects placed on the surface, such as game pieces.

“The PlayAnywhere configuration and unique form factor opens up many new possibilities: consider a combined sensor, projector, computation pod that a child can set up on the floor or imaginary playfield!”

I got to admit though that I can consider far more intriguing impimentations especially in the field of education, art or interactive story telling, than just packaging it all up before it’s even “born” as a new product to win on behalf of one company or another the ongoing “game platform wars”. Isn’t there anything else in their minds? Isn’t there anything more worthy to offer a child? After all a child by definition could always “Play anywhere”…

Well, its a microsoft initiative afterall so here is more reading and samples…

Demoreel of a new kind of a interface from Multi-Touch Interaction Research.
While touch sensing is commonplace for single points of contact, multi-touch sensing enables a user to interact with a system with more than one finger at a time, as in chording and bi-manual operations.

Such sensing devices are inherently also able to accommodate multiple users simultaneously, which is especially useful for larger interaction scenarios such as interactive walls and tabletops.

More at Interaction Research…

This video shows some of the PhD research on multi user multimodal tabletop interaction, by Edward Tse. It allows multi user gesture and speech interaction over Google Earth and Warcraft III on a digital table display.

Research is focused on supporting people’s natural interactions over digital surfaces such as large tables and wall displays with possible application areas being tabletop gaming, military command and control, air traffic control and hospital emergency rooms.

Beside looking “cool” and the obvious benefits in some areas of implementation, I can’t help but think more of such interaction might be the only hope some of as have against the dreaded “carpal tunnel syndrome” (and I’m not joking).

More info can be found here