An interesting new application of existing PC technology that would be useful for exhibits and presentations will be available within weeks. The Ubi Interactive touch system can turn “any surface into a touchscreen”. The Ubi software harnesses existing PC tech including Microsoft Windows 8, Microsoft Kinect and a PC projector to project a screen onto any surface which can then be interacted with by users, just like a real physical touchscreen.
The new system was invented by Ubi Interactive and the team enjoyed being part of Microsoft’s Kinect accelerator programme last year. As a reminder, Microsoft’s accelerator program provided seed money, tech support and mentoring for start-ups with innovative commercial applications for its Kinect technologies.
The Ubi software is now ready for pre-order and will be shipping within “weeks” reports Pocket-Lint, who talked to the founders of the Ubi project in Seattle yesterday. During a demo session the project founders offered a bit of insight into the Ubi project’s development and utility value. Pocket-Lint were told that the software “taps into Windows 8 at a core level, outputting whatever is on your screen and works with any app that is a touch optimized Windows 8 or desktop app”. As a consequence developers don’t need to create special Ubi enabled software. The system calibration is quick and simple and it is also possible to project onto and interact with Windows on an irregular surface.
Ubi explained that Microsoft’s skeleton detection system, as used in Kinect enabled games, isn’t good enough at working out where the user is in relation to the projection, so this is where their custom software steps in. The video demo above shows the system in action in a variety of uses including playing the ubiquitous Angry Birds projected onto a wall... Multi-touch Ubi systems allow the usual pinch gestures for zooming, rotating, resizing etc.
Pricing per touch-point
Ubi hopes to make its system accessible and appealing to customers and is pricing according to system touch points. A single point touch version of the system will sell at $149; this is the budget one-finger version of the software supporting projected displays up to 45-inches. For up to 100-inch sized projections the price goes up to $379. If you require multi-touch there’s a big premium to pay; a two-point Ubi system for display sizes up to 100-inches will set you back $799. Finally the $1499 Enterprise version of Ubi offers 20-point touch, displays up to 100-inches and premium support. All versions get free updates for one year from release.
