An exciting part of the SIGGRAPH 2016 conference was the experiential area allowing attendees the opportunity to interact with a range of emerging technologies – from Virtual/ Augmented Reality to haptics and immersive realities. Below are my top five picks, although I could easily have doubled the list.

Automated Chair mover

An innovative way of changing room layout using small vibration bursts to reposition the pose and location of furniture. Controlled through Wifi imagine the potential for time efficiencies in education and classroom/ lecture rooms!

Ratchair: furniture learns to move itself with vibration

Titian Parshakova, Minjoo Cho, Alvaro Casinelli, Daniel Saakes

 

---

 

Redirected Walking for AR/VR

By manipulating user camera view on HMDs (Head Mounted Displays), this application can redirect pedestrians to points of interest without competing for space. No more fighting for the best view of the T-Rex in museums!

Graphical manipulation of human’s walking direction with visual illusion

• Akira Ishii, Ippei Suzuki, Shinji Sakamoto, Keita Kanai, Kazuki Takazawa, Hiraku Doi, Yoichi Ochiai

 

---

Mask User Interface for manipulation of Puppets

Using depth perception sensors controlling body movements and separate lip sensor (think Darth Vadars mouthpiece) managing mouth action this VR setup brings a new dimension to animated puppetry.

Yadori: mask-type user interface for manipulation of puppets

• Mose Sakashita, Keisuke Kalahari, Amy Koike, Kenta Suzuki, Ippei Suzuki, Yoichi Ochiai

 

 

---

Haptic suit

Integrating localised haptic feedback through VR game experiences (object contact, explosions etc.) the Synesthesia Suit adds to this visceral experience by allowing the user to ‘feel’ the sound/ music as if it runs through the body.

Synesthesia suit: the full body immersive experience

Yukari Konishi, Nobuhisa Hanamitsu, Kouta Minamizawa, Ayahiko Sato, Tetsuya Mizuguchi

---

 

Motion Predictor

 

Using complex physics algorithms, Laplacian Vision allows the user to better predict object trajectory information, displaying it in a users field of view.

Laplacian vision: augmenting motion prediction via optical see-through head-mounted displays and projectors

• Yuta Itoh