[4eyes] FW: MAT Seminar - Riffing on Surface / Andy Wilson, Microsoft Research

[Matthew Turk]

There's an important talk tomorrow which I hope you can all attend, about
the MSR Sphere, a multi-touch spherical interactive display
(http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/benko/projects/sphere/).
We'll bring the speakers (from Microsoft Research) by the lab(s) after the
talk, though we're not sure how much time they'll have.

	Matthew



Note the location: 1100 Webb Hall



Media Arts and Technology Seminar

Title: Riffing on Surface
Speakers: Andy Wilson and Hrvoje Benko
Affiliation: Microsoft Research (Adaptive Systems and Interaction Group)
Date: Friday, March 6, 2:00 pm. 
Location: WEBB HALL 1100

Abstract:
What started as a modest incubation effort has grown into the Surface
Computing group at Microsoft. Surface, its first product, is but one example
of an exciting new category of form factors and user experiences. In this
talk we would like to present a number of research projects that share the
Surface Computing vision but push in different directions. For example,
PlayAnywhere is a compact tabletop projection-vision system which explores a
number of new interactions on everyday surfaces, while TouchLight combines a
transparent projection screen material with computer vision techniques, and
FourBySix allows multiple designers to gather around a large-format Surface.
We've even brought Surface technology to spherical displays, and, most
recently, dome projection displays. In addition to new form factors, we are
also examining ways to structure Surface interactions that go beyond
traditional point cursor models. For example, Surface input may be embedded
in a gaming physics simulation to obtain realistic manipulations based on
friction and collisions. Finally, we will describe some recent work applying
newly developed range-sensing cameras to enable new interactions above the
surface. All of these new systems have the potential of changing the way we
relate to computing, but they also pose serious challenges because they are
so different from today's desktop computing.

Bios:
Andy Wilson is a member of the Adaptive Systems and Interaction group at
Microsoft Research. There he has been applying sensing techniques to enable
new styles of human-computer interaction. His interests also include machine
learning, gesture-based interfaces, inertial sensing and display
technologies. In 2002 he helped found the Surface Computing group at
Microsoft. Before joining Microsoft, Andy obtained his BA at Cornell
University, and MS and PhD at the MIT Media Laboratory. Publications and
videos of his work are located at http://research.microsoft.com/~awilson.

Hrvoje Benko is a researcher in the Adaptive Systems and Interaction group
at Microsoft Research. His research is on novel surface computing
technologies and their impact on human-computer interaction. His recent work
focused on spherical multi-touch displays and freehand gestural interactions
in the 3D space above the tabletop. He obtained his PhD at Columbia
University, working on augmented reality projects that combined immersive
experiences with interactive tabletops. More information can be found
at http://research.microsoft.com/~benko/