Test Description

I am working on an art installation project that involved setting up a Wiimote IR camera and IR LED array (IR setup) located in a light proof box behind a 2-way mirror in which one face of the box would be the 2-way mirror. Essentially the user will extend their hands/fingers around 2 to 3 feet away from the 2 way mirror to interface with the IR setup which as I said, will be located behind the mirror in a light proof box. The idea is that the IR setup should be able to detect a user's finger positions through the 2 way mirror and then send each finger's coordinates to software.

I will need the tester to document the entire process on video and upload to You Tube. I just need proof that the IR setup will be able to track the fingers of one hand accurately from 2 to 3 feet away through a 2-way mirror.

More info on 2-way mirrors can be found here:

http://www.reflectionproducts.com/transparent-mirror.htm

&

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-way_mirror

Test Requirements:

• The IR setup (Wiimote/IR camera and IR LED array) will have to be placed in a light proof box with one off the sides of the box being a 2-way mirror. Perhaps you could fix the edge of the 2-way mirror onto one side of a hinge and the edge of the box's opening face to the other side of the hinge thus making a door. This would be to gain physical access to the box's interior to install the IR set up and video tape. Also, a hole or two would have to be drilled in the back of the box for power cord and USB cord access. The hole should be covered up with some sort of  light proof sealer. Im thinking putty but perhaps densly crumpled paper will suffice. The box could be made out of wood, metal or plastic I suppose but it must be sealed tightly to make it light proof.

Here is an illustration of the IR setup:

• The fingers that are to be tracked MUST be naked. NO reflective tape or paper can be used in this test.
• The IR setup must be hooked up to a computer/software/monitor that will be able to visually display the finger positions as circles/blobs on the screen just like in Johnny Chung's finger tracking video.
  

The tester must test finger tracking at a distance of 1, 2 and 3 feet from the IR setup box. At each of the 3 testing positions, the tester must move their hand/fingers across an invisible 2 x 2 foot square to test for sensitivity and range. Each side of the 2 x 2 foot square should be traced by the testers fingers as well as moving the fingers around with in the 2 x 2 foot square.  The tester will test three 2 x 2 foot squares which will be located 1, 2 and 3 feet from the IR setup box.




Video Documentation requirements:

The following must be video taped in a continuous take:

• Videotape the IR set up located in the light proof box. Close the box's door to make it light proof.
• Videotape the back of the box to show the USB and power cords coming out of it and into the computer and power supply. Show how the computer is connected to the TV/computer screen.
• Position the camera in front of the IR setup box and screen (like in Johnny Chung's video). Then videotape you placing your hand/fingers 2 to 3 feet away from the IR setup box. Start moving your fingers up and down and have the IR setup up track them and the software output of the circles on the screen. Move hands/fingers around from left to right and from up to down showing the limits of the vertical and horizontal range of the IR setup. Then show the in and out range. Go real close then move away until finger blobs disappear from the screen.

I will pay for the 2 way mirror and have it sent to your location. I will also pay for your service of setting up the 2-way mirror box/ IR set up and video documentation of the test once I have seen the uploaded You Tube video. My paying for the 2-way mirror and having it sent to you , I'd hope, should be proof enough that I will pay you the full amount after services have been rendered according to my above requirements. Payment is negotiable but just keep in mind that I am barely getting by myself as a starving artist. Also, before contacting me, please make sure that you have video's of your Wiimote experiments uploaded to You Tube already so I know you can already do what I am asking.

I hope to get a grant based off of this evidence that it can work. If I do get the grant then I will pay the tester 500 dollars. This is on top of what I will pay the tester after they complete the test. The initial payment will probably range between 50 to 150 dollars and yes, I will put this in writing. Hope to hear from all interested.

Thanks and take care,
caeious

No. Not nearly as complex. All I am interested in doing is sending where the pointer finger is with in the 2 x 2 foot square field and then transmitting that data to the software. It's all about what 2d coordinate the pointer and middle fingers are at. The software will divide the 2 x 2 foot square up into little squares. Each square will be assigned a different value. Depending on what virtual square the user's fingers are located in, a new sound or image will appear.

I need to understand how the IR setup will  work when sensing this 2 x 2 foot square field from 1 ft, 2 ft and 3ft away. For example, lets say a user holds their finger up 1 foot above the direct front of the IR setup at a distance of 1 foot away from the IR set up. I assume that will give a completely different coordinate from when a user holds their finger up 1 foot above the direct front of the IR setup at a distance of 3 feet from the IR set up. I also am not even sure if a finger held at 1 ft above the front of the IR set up will even get tracked. Is it too high and out of range?

So that is why I need these tests run. I need to see what the sensing range distance is of a 2 x 2 foot square field.  I am assuming it will be somewhere around 2 to 3 feet. I would have to talk with the tester on Skype to work out the further details of the test. Certain particulars can really only be discussed verbally for proper comprehension I feel.

So although this is a bit complex, Natal is much bigger. I just saw the Milo demo. Its truly amazing. I should also mention what I am talking about here has already been demonstrated by Microsoft in their home of the future video on YouTube. Take notice between 2:23 to video's end. Some how they are sensing through that mirror. Im thinking it could be a 2 way mirror , or at least part of it could be.

Hey Bobster,

They problem is that my interface is not a touch based one. In fact I need to avoid having the user touch anything. And as far as I can tell, NUI just focuses on touch surfaces. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Peace,
caeious