Holographic Keypads Float Into View

prostoalex writes "The New York Times tells the story of a Connecticut-based company called HoloTouch that is developing input devices that literally "float in the air". The technology will be licensed for information kiosks in New York city. Some other sample applications are available from the company's Web site. HoloTouch already managed to secure the patent on its technology."

Comments

Different Uses...

[mattyohe]

Hopefully the porn industry latches onto this technology.

Re:sounds cool enough

[stratjakt]

You cant photograph a hologram, nor can you see it with only one eye.

WHat a Load of Shaite!

[nherc]

Basically their patent says: Once someone figures out how to create a floating hologram, we figured out how to interacte with it by get this "TOUCHING" THE HOLOGRAM!

Those are some smart bastards. The patent office really makes me sick.

From the patent:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a holographic operator interface to electronic or electromechanical devices such as data processing units or computers and, more particularly, to a holographic operator interface where there is no tangible physical contact between the operator and the control elements of the operator interface as the input devices are holographic images of the keys or other customarily touch-activated tangible input devices. Operator interaction is detected through electromagnetic or other means, thereby obviating the need for direct physical contact with a solid input object or surface.