Obake

source: creativeapplicationsnet

Created by Dhairya Dand and Robert Hemsley, the project seeks to develop gestures to evolve three-dimensional surfaces using 2.5D interaction. Learning from existing displays which are two-dimensional and using optical illusion and depth sensing cameras, the flat elastic surface is used as a way to manipulate surfaces and objects in three-dimensional space. The project is called ‘Obake’ (o-baa-keh) imagines what if our screens were elastic, we could literally pinch and pull them.

In the example below the user is able to create mountains by pulling them out of the screen, draw rivers with fingers, elevate the entire terrain to see a cut section. The project is in development and currently only shows the working prototype with a topographical simulator.

The install was built using linear actuators, liquid rubber casted into a screen, Kinect, Projector. The software was written using openFrameworks.
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source: dhairyadand

I am an inventor at the MIT Media Lab. I am inspired by mythologies, super humans and the world around me. Most of my work addresses problems and opportunities I see around me; more often than not, its also a result of excessive day dreaming and taking reality with a pinch of salt.

Presently, I am working on the idea of programming intuition and imparting humans with new skills and capabilities.

In my previous life, I made some ice-cubes that know how much you’re drinking; was an open-source toy designer – I used to make educational toys from eWaste; used to make emotional softwares, plants and robots; built new expressive interfaces for autistic kids; had an mGovernance startup in rural India; used to hack electronics to repurpose them.

I was born in rural India, I grew up amongst plumbers, carpenters and masons. I was trained to be a plumber until I decided to attend college. Went on to attend engineering school officially and design and psychology school unofficially. Interned for some kickass people along the way, and shifted many countries.

23, I dream, I am ever-curious, I collect experiences.
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source: dhairyadand

Screens as they exist today are flat, 2D and rigid; even the 3D displays we have today are not true 3D – they are optical illusions. We created a 2.5D display that is shape changing with the help of actuators, depth cameras, projector and a silicone screen. ‘Obake’ (o-baa-keh) as we lovingly call it, imagines how we would interact with elastic display. We could literally pinch and pull them!

Create mountains by pulling them out of the screen, draw rivers with your fingers, elevate an entire terrain to see a cut section view. Make your data come alive. The video shows our working prototype.

Hardware built with – Wood, linear actuators, liquid rubber casted into a screen, Kinect, Projector

Software written in – openFrameworks

with Rob Hemsley

thanks Hiroshi ISHII, Rahul Budhiraja