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Microsoft's Wicked See-Through 3D Display

By Rain Noe - March 21, 2012

in Tech | UX

It's like a hi-tech sneezeguard at a salad bar

It's like a hi-tech sneezeguard at a salad bar

A certain famous industrial designer once told me I'd be absolutely amazed if I could see some of the things he'd seen inside Microsoft's skunkworks. I pushed him for specifics, but alas, the design DNA was NDA'd. But this project here just might be one of those things.

Right now we all use computers the same way: Moving from the back of your desk to the front, you've got the screen first, then your hands on the keyboard or mouse, and then your head taking it all in. Now imagine swapping the order so that back-to-front we have your hands first, then the screen, then your head.

Researchers Jinha Lee and Cati Boulanger of the Microsoft Applied Sciences Group have developed a prototype called the See-Through 3D Desktop where the user reaches behind the screen to interact with objects in virtual 3D space. Check it out:

Here's another vid showing a different demo of the same technology. You can skip ahead to 1:00 for the action:

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Chris

12 years ago

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That would be SO nice to be able to "hold" a CAD model in your hand as your making it. Imagine (as software gets better) digital modeling clay. It seems like it would be pretty taxing just from an ergonomics standpoint to have to do all features from behind your screen though. It'd be nice to be able to control it from both front and back of the screen.
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Gordon

12 years ago

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I can't see myself or anyone in business, gaming or design using this thing for anything. I don't think that we're moving forward with touch displays or this, as far as I can see it just makes everything harder by being less precise.Someone with good knowledge of hot keys and general competence can easily outmatch anyone on a touch screen. This looks even worse.
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WebsiteDesignChicago

12 years ago

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Whoa! I can't wait till they have the 'touch' space computers like on IronMan!! Looks like one step closer!
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Pat

12 years ago

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Apple keyboard is a nice touch.
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