German company Metaio demonstrated a new concept of thermal touch technology that combined a traditional camera with thermal imaging to produce an interactive image using any surface.
Augmented reality (AR) was designed to duplicate physical environments by turning sounds, and images into videos and GPS data using a computer. The result of computer vision and object recognition is interactive and digitally enhanced information. Certain products are being developed with AR, including eyeglasses, bionic contact lenses, trackers and more.
Metaio recently introduced a new concept that combined a traditional camera-driven AR with thermal imaging to make any surface an interface. It could turn any physical object into an interactive, touchable one.
Dubbed the "Thermal Touch" interface, it used an infrared camera that could sense residual heat from touching. The company developed the new product after playing with a few thermal cameras.
"Our researcher noticed that every time he touched something, it left a very visible heat signature imprint," Metaio spokesman Trak Lord shared to GigaOM.
Lord explained the advantage of thermal cameras compared to the current cameras. Normal cameras could perform tracking with sufficient programming, but there were limitations when used on three-dimensional interfaces.
"The thermal camera adds another dimension of understanding. If you have a [normal] camera it's not as precise. The thermal imaging camera can very clearly see where exactly you're touching," he added.
Metaio thought to use the new technology on security keypads visible only to the user, clickable links on newspaper ads, and even interactive car manuals. The company demo included a game of AR chess on a tabletop.
The prototype for a Thermal Touch product is composed of an IR thermal camera with a visible light camera attached to a tablet PC. The company estimated that it could take up to five years before they present the final product, which might end up competing with Google Glass.
"Everyone is talking about wearable computing eyewear like Google Glass," said Metaio CTO Peter Meier during the demo, "But no one is talking about the best way to actually use those devices. We need natural, convenient interface to navigate the technology of tomorrow, and that's why we developed 'Thermal Touch.'"
