MIT gestural computing makes multitouch look old hat

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/mit-gestural-computing-makes-multitouch-look-old-hat/

Ah, the MIT Media Lab, home to Big Bird's illegitimate progeny, augmented reality projects aplenty, and now three-dimensional gestural computing. The new bi-directional display being demoed by the Cambridge-based boffins performs both multitouch functions that we're familiar with and hand movement recognition in the space in front of the screen -- which we're also familiar with, but mostly from the movies. The gestural motion tracking is done via embedded optical sensors behind the display, which are allowed to see what you're doing by the LCD alternating rapidly (invisible to the human eye, but probably not to human pedantry) between what it's displaying to the viewer and a pattern for the camera array. This differs from projects like Natal, which have the camera offset from the display and therefore cannot work at short distances, but if you want even more detail, you'll find it in the informative video after the break.

[Thanks, Rohit]

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MIT gestural computing makes multitouch look old hat originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia 5235 Comes With Music and a low price in Q1 2010

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/nokia-5235-comes-with-music-and-a-low-price-in-q1-2010/

The 5230 has only recently made its way out to stores, but that hasn't stopped Nokia from fashioning a KIRFy sort of successor for it. Meet the Nokia 5235, a spec for spec copy of its elder brother, including the same 3.2-inch touchscreen, 2 megapixel camera, and Symbian S60 5th edition. We thought we could spot a tiny difference in the materials being used, but otherwise you really are looking at the exact same handset. Your wallet would tell the difference, though, as the 5235 has a pre-tax and pre-subsidy price of €145 ($214), which is more than €100 cheaper than the previously noted 5230 CWM variant -- in other words, Nokia is renaming its CWM model and chopping the price nicely. Why, we don't know, but when is the first quarter of 2010.

Update: Poring over the spec sheets, we've finally noticed the big change in the 5235: it lacks GPS.

Nokia 5235 Comes With Music and a low price in Q1 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Asus Building Eee Pad to Counter Apple Tablet? [Rumor]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/aS9ctCMtJ-0/asus-building-eee-pad-to-counter-apple-tablet

According to DigiTimes, Asus is building a "4- to 7-inch panel...which will offer a combination of tablet PC and MID functions." And given Asus' experience in cheap portables (inventing netbooks, remember?), the plan could be a perfect fit. [DigiTimes]

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Philips E-Skins Could Have Your Gadgets Changing Colors Like a Chameleon [Gadgets]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/l-1o_0tbTo4/philips-e+skins-could-have-your-gadgets-changing-colors-like-a-chameleon

This isn't the first time the concept of color-changing electronic skins has been tossed around, but Philips is a big name, and they have big plans that extend beyond your portable gadgets.

Electronic paper (e-paper) looks like conventional paper and the bright wash of color it generates uses the ambient light for rendition, just like conventional paint, so no backlight is needed. Which means that the vividness of the color is maintained, even in bright outdoor conditions. Philips' technology allows different colors of ink to be built into one layer with each color controlled separately. This means the layer can be transparent, the same color as any one of the inks or even a mixture of multiple colors. Moreover, the saturation of each individual color can be controlled accurately – so any shade can be produced. Recently, Philips successfully realized a simplified, yet advanced version of its e-paper technology: e-skin. Since it is less complicated and less expensive to realize, it enables new applications. And because e-skin makes use of the ambient light, it is an inherently energy-efficient system, making it particularly suitable for application in portable devices as well.

While portable devices might be the focus in the short-term, this sort of technology could also be used for larger equipment and even wallpaper in your home. In other words, it might not be long before we can change the color and the entire ambiance of a room with the push of a button. [Philips ! via Pocket-Lint]

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AAXA P2 pico projector gets tested and lauded

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/10/aaxa-p2-pico-projector-gets-tested-and-lauded/

The first batch of pico projectors weren't exactly world-beaters; the resolution was low, lumens were lacking and MSRPs were startlingly high. Such is life on the cutting edge. But AAXA's P2 is riding the second wave, boasting a higher-than-average 800 x 600 resolution, 33 lumens of brightness, 1GB of onboard storage, a microSDHC expansion slot, VGA / AV inputs, a built-in speaker and an integrated media player to boot. Our good pals over at Gadling just got their paws around one, and they seemed duly satisfied with the performance. Unlike many first-generation units, this one managed to throw up a respectable image even in dimly lit rooms, and while the 40-inch image was understandably the best, it did manage to toss up a 100-inch visual when pressed. Hit the source link for the full writeup, and if you're planning on buying in now, it's available for a sale price of $319.

AAXA P2 pico projector gets tested and lauded originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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