Wii Multitouch Wows TED

Johnny Lee of Carnegie Mellon graduates to the TED2008 platform to show off his Wii-based interactive whiteboard and give a strong plug for the use of YouTube in democratizing the process of technology research. ( 5 min video from TED Talks).

I posted earlier on Thoughts Illustrated: WiiMote multitouch from CynergyLabs on Johnny's simple, very cheap method ($40) for using the Wiimote IR sensors to provide multitouch interactivity in large "mural" size format brings the price point of these displays within the reach of anyone wanting to integrate the user with the display of visual information. Since I first learned of Lee's innovation, he has reached over a 500,000 people who have downloaded his code to explore the use of the Wiimote and has made a business deal with Electronic Arts the giant game producer to incorporate his 3D "glasses" into interactive games ( shown in the second segment of the video)

This dramatic reduction in the cost of interactive whiteboards presages an explosion of the use of this powerful form of user interface with images and data. Every classroom and business meeting room should have one.

WiiMote multitouch from CynergyLabs

Building on Johnny Chung Lee's Wiimote example, CynergyLab in San Diego has created a multitouch prototype using a large screen display and IR emitters built into gloves. I'll bet Nintendo never thought of that!

Microsoft Surface - a new way of staying in touch

Click here to browse the revolutionary features of Surface Computing. Microsoft Surface

Today's InfoWeekStory with more detail.Computer GUI Revolution Continues With Microsoft Surface's Touchscreen, Object Recognition -- Microsoft Surface

I previously posted on MultiTouch Technology and quoted the if:book post:

"It's going to be three-pronged: screen technology, networked content, and 3D visualization. And it's going to be very, very cool.

Thoughts Illustrated: Multitouch and the Future of the Book.

Multitouch and the Future of the Book.

Here;s another post about MT technology by Kim White at if:book to quote Kim:

It's going to be three-pronged: screen technology, networked content, and 3D visualization. And it's going to be very, very cool.

I think it's worth it to read the full text of Kim's remarks here:
if:book: the sea change is coming...

The convergence of the concept of the Networked Book and the MT technology IS very,very cool.

Another view of the MultiTouch Screen

You can click play here and get immediate "graphic gratification". Try it:

Each of these posts contains a different video - and I think it's worth watching both to get the full impact.