inFORM dynamic shape display augments physical reality
all images courtesy tangible media group
five engineers from the tangible media group at MIT’s media lab have developed ‘inFORM’, a dynamic shape display that has the capability to render three-dimensional content physically, so users can interact with tangible digital information. the system has been created to communicate with the physical world around it, such as moving objects on a table’s surface. in the future, the technology could be used to mediate interaction through geospatial data, such as maps, terrain models and architectural models.
urban planners and architects would be able to view 3D models in real-time to better understand design prototypes. in the medical industry, inFORM can be used to visualize cross sections through volumetric data such as CT scans, which could be viewed in three dimension allowing doctors and surgeons to physically analyze information. built on top of a state-of-the-art shape display, the unit ultimately renders real-time user input through tactile feedback and tangible interaction.
the concept facilitates the manipulation of actuating physical objects
user manipulating a flashlight
user interacting with a ball
remote participants in video conferences can be displayed physically
the user interacting with a flashlight from the otherside of the screen
