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Holographic Keypads Float Into View

Posted by simoniker on from the insert-princess-leia-gag-here dept.

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."

7 of 291 comments (clear)

  1. Different Uses... by mattyohe · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Hopefully the porn industry latches onto this technology.

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    - what is the definition of simultanagnosia?! I've been meaning to look it up!
    1. Re:Different Uses... by Ominous+Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

      Mods: Please note that this isn't really redundant as it was posted at the same time as the other comment about porn. "mattyohe" probably hadn't read the other comment when he made his comment.

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      Ceci n'est pas une sig.
  2. Holotouch: Thus was born ... by burgburgburg · · Score: -1, Redundant

    the virtual pr0n industry.

  3. Wow! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    The /. effect is fast! The story's only been up for a few minutes and the site is already inaccessable!

  4. Re:sounds cool enough by stratjakt · · Score: 0, Redundant

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

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    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  5. WHat a Load of Shaite! by nherc · · Score: 1, Redundant
    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.

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    'He was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher... or, as his wife would have it, an idiot.' - Douglas Adams
  6. Gee wow, a one man show by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    From NyTimes: Mr. McPheters, who was an executive in two previous start-ups that failed, said he was following a lean business model now that he was running his own company. He is HoloTouch's only full-time employee and works out of his home office in Darien, Conn., with help from four people who serve as consultants. He did not even seek outside technical assistance until his patent was issued last year, after a 10-year odyssey through the United States patent office. Wow... some old dude playing with holograms. This is BIG NEWS!!!