MEDIALAB | RESPONSIVE WORKBENCH

 

The responsive workbench is an interactive colloborative system for stereo visualization of volumetric and surface data. It can be customized for a variety of purposes such as scientific visualization, architectural and industrial design and game applications.

Main component of the workbench is the table top that is used as the main display and interaction area. The visual content, such as menu items, 2D/3D visualizations and Video Images, that is generated on the display server units of the system, is projected (in stereo) on to this table top. Users of the system wear stereo goggles for 3D stereo viewing.

 

 

The users iteract with the workbench by using hand gestures, and by pointing menu areas on the table top. Hand gestures are tracked by an image processing based tracking system, using the video input captured via a static camera placed directly above the table top. Via this interface the users can also interact with the virtual objects. Sound effects are used as an aid for the user in interacting with the workbench. Another tracking subsystem is used to drive the virtual cameras in the 3D visualizations. A mobile camera, either hand held or head mounted, is utilized for this purpose. Intelligence will be built into the Workbench for automatic recognition of users and interaction with mobile devices.

 

 
 
 

REPORTS

MediaLab Report 2006/001

 

The workbench can also be connected to an online real action video source and can support Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality Applications.
 
Figure shows a scale model built for an architectural project. Building such models is an extremely time consuming process. Although the architects, actually have the relevant 3D models on their computers, they underline that looking at a scaled model that sits on a table is something they are accustomed to and provides more feeling to the design process. Responsive Workbench is a system that can provide this functionality without the hassle of actually building the scaled models.