Technology concept called IllumiRoom turned the head of many fans of video games, when it was first shown at the exhibition CES 2013 more than a year ago. Later, however, it became clear that the technology is too expensive and complicated to bring it to market. Since then, nothing about it was not heard until today.
On his YouTube-channel, researchers from Microsoft Research published a new video, which showed how much they have advanced in the development of last year’s ideas. However, now the technology is not called IllumiRoom, but simply RoomAlive.
Developers use some powerful projectors, fixed on the ceiling at specific angles, as well as several combined them Kinect sensor of the first generation (that’s just why not use the more accurate Kinect 2.0?).
System carefully scans the surrounding area and is a three-dimensional map of its surface: which of them vertical, and what – horizontal or positioned at a certain angle. The data obtained is modeled virtual room, each of the surfaces which can be used as part of a separate game.
To demonstrate the programmers Microsoft Research have developed a few uncomplicated demonstrations. One of them models the raindrops that interact with the walls and floor of the room in different ways. They flow from the walls and floors create the illusion of real street puddles. The second demo is a kind of hunting for tiny creatures with a plastic gun. Third demoigra is a shooter in which the control character by using the traditional gamepad for the Xbox.
Of course, as long as it’s just a concept that continues to evolve in parallel with the development of modern technologies. But Microsoft has invested heavily in the evolution of augmented reality, so maybe in a few years you can turn your living room into a huge three-dimensional screen.
Read another very interesting article about alternative energy of the Sun, water and air.
