The MotionBeam is a project by Disney Research that explores the use of handheld projectors to interact and control projected characters. Similarly to the project by AirCord ‘Mobile Runner’ the project explores physical movement of the projection device, much like a motion controller, how it may be used to guide and interact with the virtual/projected characters and interact with physical environment.
Our character and racing game applications show how MotionBeam can be applied and used with mobile games. It can also be utilized for augmented reality interaction, by linking projected content to physical objects in the environment. We envision MotionBeam as a key component in a new ‘game projector’ platform where the real world becomes a playground and users interact directly with each other and the environment.
The prototype shown is implemented using an iPod Touch 2G, a Microvision ShowWX laser projector, and a microcontroller-sensor unit. The attached sensors include a 9DOF accelerometer/gyroscope/magnetometer board, an ultrasonic distance sensor (MaxSonar), and an infrared receiver. Applications run in real-time on the device and are written in a combination of C++, OpenGL, and Objective-C.
The team will present a full paper on the MotionBeam project at CHI 2011: ‘Non-Flat Displays’ session, Tuesday 10th, 11am. You can download the paper here (pdf).
The MotionBeam project is being developed at Disney Research Pittsburgh and the Computational Design Lab,Carnegie Mellon University by Karl D.D. Willis, Ivan Poupyrev and Takaaki Shiratori.
