AnyTouch Turns Your Desk into a Microsoft Surface-like Display

By Tuan Mai
published

DIY desktop interface project turns any flat surface into an interactive display.

Now that Microsoft has unveiled its Surface tablet, the old touchscreen table device is left without a catchy name. Now identified as Microsoft "PixelSense", the Samsung SUR40 is still a highly desirable device that has inspired many creative minds to come up with similar, less costly alternatives. The latest example is the AnyTouch device based on Ayotle’s Ayotle Interactive+ system.

Although it provides similar functions to Microsoft's Pixelsense, AnyTouch is unique in that it doesn't require an actual touchscreen. As the name suggests, the device can turn any flat surface along with 3D objects into a complex, interactive display. While the AnyTouch setup might not cost as much as a $8400 Samsung SUR40, it does require a handful of expensive equipment including a DSLR camera and the ASUS Xtion motion sensor.

No word on whether or not the AnyTouch code will be opened up to the public for DIY projects just yet, but we're assuming this isn't going to be the last we hear of this awesome surface-top display.

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Tuan Mai
Tuan Mai
Tuan Mai is a Los Angeles based writer and marketing manager working within the PC Hardware industry. He has written for Tom's Guide since 2010, with a special interest in the weird and quirky.
7 Comments Comment from the forums
  • rangas
    kind of interesting where things are going
    Reply
  • CaedenV
    I love the general idea, but the practical application must be a monumental task.

    The issue is not so much in having cameras see what you are doing (that is relatively easy and has been done by many companies), but in understanding that what you are doing has a very specific meaning which applies something to something else. Either you have a huge library of objects which take on a specific meaning which limits what can be done, or else every time you make a presentation you will have to program new meanings to each and every object used.

    Still, very cool, and a well done application in their video!
    Reply
  • A more advanced version of this?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projection_keyboard
    Reply
  • boiler1990
    AnyTouch Turns Your Desk into a Microsoft Surface-like Display

    You mean a "Samsung SUR40 with Microsoft Pixelsense"-like Display
    Reply
  • belardo
    What did it say on the RED button he pushed?
    Reply
  • rebel1280
    Well, im impressed :) Not very practical but impressive none the less.
    Reply
  • pliskin1
    belardoWhat did it say on the RED button he pushed?Was a "bullshit" button.
    Also, as others have said, it is impressive.
    Reply