LumiPoint: Scalable multi-user laser input

Projection technology has made large tiled displays an exciting feature of advanced visualization systems. However, one challenge to using such systems effectively is the development of input technologies that comfortably allow collaborative interaction with the displayed data on these large surfaces. We have developed an input system that allows any number of users to interact simultaneously with data on a large display surface. In this system, each user utilizes a laser pointer as a pen or pointing device. Using computer vision techniques, the system determines the beginning, continuation, and end of all currently active pointer strokes. The coordinates of each stroke are available for use by visualization applications. This system scales well with display size, display resolution, and number of users.

 

Laser pointers can be used either on the screen or at a distance to interact with a large high-resolution display. Cameras behind the screen track the points of light.