"Ubi turns any surface into touch-screen

The Inquisitr reports.

By connecting its own software and hardware to the Kinect system and a computer, "Ubi has managed to turn any surface into an interactive touch-screen.

Based in Munich, the start-up claims its technology can be applied to virtually any surface, allowing for interactive touch-screen presentations without the need for a clicker, mouse, pointer or any other type of hardware-based device.

According to Ars Technica, "Ubi's system uses a Microsoft Kinect sensor to turn a regular projector into a multi-touch PC projection system, where regular PowerPoints, Web pages, even games no longer require clickers or wireless mice to be navigated.

By using the motion-tracking and depth perception cameras in the Kinect, "Ubi is able to detect where a user is pointing, swiping and tapping on a surface and interpret these gestures as if they were being performed on a giant touch-screen or interactive whiteboard.

"Ubi is one of 11 start-ups that won $20 000 of funding and support from Microsoft as part of its Kinect Accelerator programme, but it remains independent as a start-up, Wired.co.uk notes.

Its business model has several aspects: selling the software to individuals who already have a Kinect and a projector; selling a unit that bundles together a projector with a Kinect, as well as the software; retrofitting office spaces with Kinect sensors and software; and working with advertisers and outdoor agencies that want to add interactivity to public displays and surfaces.

The software itself would cost close to $500, and the company is keeping its options open for working with companies that want to integrate richer 3D applications that require custom gestures and software APIs.