With this system is possible to detect interactions in a space without using tangible objects. A simple grid of laser rays will be triggered without the need of a “physical” interface. In other words it is possible to generate interactions “trough the space itself”. The grid system offers a wide range of possibilities with a very simple set-up. The prototype shown above demonstrates the basic operation of such an interface.
This project enables new ways of interacting with the space. Once installed, a person would be able to trigger some reaction only with the movements of his / her hand, thanks to the immateriality of the interface. The following example shows how the system could be eventually used to control a screen.
The following picture shows how the grid could be installed in a determinated space (the laser rays are simulated). When a person interrupts at some point the laser grid, it triggers the sensor system and the data gathered can be transmited to a screen. The rays are not visible for the person.
The system works thanks to a grid of laser pointers and photdiodes. Anytime that two laser rays are interrupted, the respective photodiodes send a signal to the microcontroller, which in turn transmits the coordinates of the action to the computer. Therefore the interface can provide the position of the interaction with some accuracy.
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There isn’t a concrete purpose for it, rather than exploring a new way of interacting with the environment. It can be used at a bigger scale as part of an interactive installation, or installed definitely in a specific room. For example it could be installed on the floor or on the ceiling, to detect the steps of a person or when it raises its hand.