Miniature Projection Technology | Minority Report Interface closer to reality | Out-Wii’ing the Wii

Technorati Tags: minority report interface,mobile display,wiimote,wii,sony sixaxis,xbox 360,gaming,interactive whiteboard,mulitpoint interface,blended learning,elearning,disruptive technology,mocap

Note: I held positions in 3M for some time, I can’t recall if I still have it in my stock portfolio.

From 3M Press Room

3M Revolutionizes Mobile Displays

Miniature Projection Technology Available Now

2008 International CES

ST. PAUL, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–3M is now providing consumer electronics manufacturers with a revolutionary advancement in the emerging field of miniature projection technology. 3M scientists developed a breakthrough ultra-compact, LED-illuminated projection engine designed for integration into virtually any personal electronic device. Roughly the size of a wireless earpiece and less than half an inch thick, the 3M mobile projection engine delivers brilliant VGA resolution images and is available today.

This would be perfectly paired with the Minority Report Interface or the Multipoint Interface that I blogged about last week since the killer app would be your laptop becoming an interactive whiteboard / 3D modeling multipoint interface.

What’s currently done with a hacked Wii remote will quickly jump forward.

Forget the Sony sixaxis or the Wii: Disruption within Gaming Controllers Predicted

This could also completely revolutionize gaming since a simple USB plugin could allow the same reflective tape motion capture (MOCAP) that works with a larger projection engine without the form factor issues.

Rekall, Rekall, Rekall: Blast from the past

Remember that old movie Total Recall, yet another Philip K. Dick short story I might add?

Where Sharon Stone’s character was playing tennis with her virtual reality tennis pro in her shared apartment with Arnie at the beginning of the movie?

Casual Gaming Revolution: Even Tetris could take on a whole new life with this type of interaction.

MOCAP Developer requirements are critical

Drivers to be written for existing game titles and all new motion capture potential to be realized by developers. Standardizing the motion capture would be smart. I’m sure there will be a rush towards an IP approach to the MOCAP not seen since the 1990s with the dotcoms and their technology booms. Coding in development games with sockets / hooks for this type of interface to be written later would be a very wise decision.

eLearning and Blended Learning Killer Applications

Any training or arts which would reinforce muscle memory (dance, for one, or karate, or Tai Chi) will logically follow.

Not to toot my own horn, but I’ve already been looking into this market for some time. I’m excited about what this could offer, particularly after attending the 2007 GDC last year.

By the way, hat tip to iconnectdots.com for the news about this.