Now, turn your desk into touchscreen with new tech

Scientists have developed a new technology that can enable you to turn almost any surface into a touchscreen with just a wave of your hand!

Scientists have developed a new technology that can enable you to turn almost any surface into a touchscreen with just a wave of your hand!

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have demonstrated that touch-based interfaces can be created anywhere almost at will.

Scientists previously have shown that a depth camera system, such as Kinect, can be combined with a projector to turn almost any surface into a touchscreen.

The WorldKit system enables someone to rub the arm of a sofa to 'paint' a remote control for TV or swipe a hand across an office door to post calendar from which subsequent users can 'pull down' an extended version.

These ad hoc interfaces can be moved, modified or deleted with similar gestures, making them highly personalised.

Mark Zuckerberg, President and CEO of Facebook, walks to morning sessions with his girlfriend Priscilla Chan during the 2011 Allen and Co Sun Valley Conference, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, Files)

Mark Zuckerberg, President and CEO of Facebook, walks to morning sessions with his girlfriend Priscilla Chan during the 2011 Allen and Co Sun Valley Conference, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, Files)

However, Robert Xiao, an HCII doctoral student, said WorldKit does not require such an elaborate installation.

'Depth sensors are getting better and projectors just keep getting smaller,' he said.

Tim Noonan demonstrates a Sharp Aquos Interactive Display System prototype on a 1080p full-HD, 70-inch LED/LCD at the Sharp Electronics booth on the opening day of the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show in the Las Vegas. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

Tim Noonan demonstrates a Sharp Aquos Interactive Display System prototype on a 1080p full-HD, 70-inch LED/LCD at the Sharp Electronics booth on the opening day of the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show in the Las Vegas. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

The system does not require prior calibration, automatically adjusting its sensing and image projection to the orientation of the chosen surface.

Users can summon switches, message boards, indicator lights and a variety of other interface designs from a menu. Ultimately, the WorldKit team anticipates that users will be able to custom design interfaces with gestures.

The findings will be presented at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, in Paris.

Though WorldKit now focuses on interacting with surfaces, the researchers anticipate future work may enable users to interact with the system in free space.

Likewise, higher resolution depth cameras may someday enable the system to sense detailed finger gestures. In addition to gestures, the system also could be designed to respond to voice commands.