444 Sixth Sense Technology

8/2/2019 444 Sixth Sense Technology

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1.1 INTRODUCTION

Although miniaturized versions of computers help us to connect to the digital world

even while we are travelling there arent any device as of now which gives a direct link

between the digital world and our physical interaction with the real world. Usually the

informations are stored traditionally on a paper or a digital storage device. Sixth sense

technology helps to bridge this gap between tangible and non-tangible world. Sixth Sense

device is basically a wearable gestural interface that connects the physical world around us

with digital information and lets us use natural hand gestures to interact with this information.The sixth sense technology was developed by PranavMistry, a PhD student in the Fluid

Interfaces Group at the MIT Media Lab. According to him the sixth sense technology has a

Web 4.0 view of human and machine interactions.Sixth Sense integrates digital information

into the physical world and its objects, making the entire world your computer. It can turn

any surface into a touch-screen for computing, controlled by simple hand gestures. It is not a

technology which is aimed at changing human habits but causing computers and other

machines to adapt to human needs. It also supports multi user and multi touch provisions.

Sixth Sense device is a mini-projector coupled with a camera and a cell phonewhich acts as

the computer and your connection to the Cloud, all the information stored on the web. The

current prototype costs around $350. The Sixth Sense prototype is used to implement several

applications that have shown the usefulness, viability and flexibility of the system.


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1.2 SIXTH SENSE DEVICES

'Sixth Sense' is a wearable gestural interface that augments the physical world around

us with digital information and lets us use natural hand gestures to interact with that

information the hardware components are coupled in a pendant like mobile wearable device.

The Sixth Sense prototype is comprised of a pocket projector, a mirror,colored marker and a

camera. The camera, mirror and projector is connected wirelessly to a blue tooth smart phone

device that can easily fit into the users pocket.A software then processes the data that is

collected by the capturing device and produces analysis.The software that is used in sixthsense device is open source type.

Fig. 1.1

1.2.1 Camera

It captures the image of the object in view and track the users hand gesture. The

camera recognizes individuals, images, pictures, gestures that user makes with his hand. The

camera then sends this data to a smart phone for processing. Basically the camera forms a

digital eye which connects to the world of digital information.


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1.2.2 Colored Marker

There are color markers placed at the tip of users finger. Marking the users fingers

with red, yellow green and blue coloured tape helps the webcam to recognize the hand

gestures.The movements and arrangement of these markers are interpreted into gestures that

act as a interaction instruction for the projected application interfaces.

1.2.3 Mobile Component

The SixthSense device consists of a web enabled smart phone which process the data

send by the camera. The smart phone searches the web and interprets the hand gestures with

help of the coloured markers placed at the finger tips.

1.2.4 Projector

The information that is interpreted through the smart phone can be projected into any

surface. The projector projects the visual information enabling surfaces and physical objects

to be used as interfaces. The projector itself consists of a battery which have 3 hours of

battery life .A tiny LED projector displays the data sent from the smart phone on any surface

in view- object, wall or person. The downward facing projector projects the image on to a

mirror.

Using palm for dialling a number

Fig. 1.2

1.2.5 Mirror

The usage of a mirror is important as the projector dangles pointing downwards from

the neck. The mirror reflects the image on to a desire surface.Thus finally the digital image is

freed from its confines and placed in the physical world.


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Fig. 1.3


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1.3 Technologies that are related to Sixth Sense Devices

1.3.1 Augmented Reality

The augmented Reality is a visualization technology that allows the user to experience

the virtual experience added over real world in real time.With the help of advanced AR

technology the information about the surrounding real world of the user

becomes interactive and digitally usable. Artificial information about the environment and the

objects in it can be stored and retrieved as an information layer on top of the real world view.

When we compare the spectrum between virtual reality, which creates immersive, computer-

generated environments, and the real world, augmented reality is closer to the real world.

Augmented reality adds graphics, sounds, haptic feedback and smell to the natural world as it

exists. Both video games and cell phones are driving the development of augmented reality .Theaugmented systems will also superimpose graphics for every perspective available andtry

adjust to every movement of the user's head and eyes.The three basic components of an

augmented reality system are the head-mounted display, tracking system and mobile

computer for the hardware. The main goal of this new technology is to merge these three

components into a highly portable unit much like a combination of a high tech Walkman and

an ordinary pair or eyeglasses.The head-mounted display used in augmented reality systems

will enable the user to view superimposed graphics and text created by the system.Another

component of an augmented reality system is its tracking and orientation system. This system

pinpoints the user's location in reference to his surroundings and additionally tracks the user's

eye and head movements.Augmented reality systems will need highly mobile computers. As

of now many computers arent there to satisfy to provide this option.

1.3.2 Gesture Recognition

It is a technology which is aimed at interpreting human gestures with the help of

mathematical algorithms. Gesture recognition technique basically focuses on the emotion

recognition from the face and hand gesture recognition. Gender recognition technique enables

humans to interact with computers in a more direct way without using any external

interfacing devices. It can provide a much better alternative to text user interfaces and

graphical user interface which requires the need of a keyboard or mouse to interact with the

computer. Interfaces which solely depends on the gestures requires precise hand pose

tracking. In the early versions of gesture recognition process special type of hand gloves

which provide information about hand position orientation and flux of the fingers. In the

SixthSense devices colored bands are used for this purpose. Once hand pose has been

captured the gestures can be recognized using different techniques. Neural network

approaches or statistical templates are the commonly used techniques used for the recognition

purposes. This technique have an high accuracy usually showing accuracy of more than 95%.Time dependent neural network will also be used for real time recognition of the gestures.


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1.3.3 Computer Vision

Computer vision is the technology in which machines are able to interpret/extract

necessary information from an image. Computer vision technology includes various fields

like image processing, image analysis and machine vision. It includes certain aspect of

artificial intelligence techniques like pattern recognition. The machines which implement

computer vision techniques require image sensors which detect electromagnetic radiation

which are usually in the form of ultraviolet rays or light rays. The computer vision find itself

applicable in varies field of interest. One such field is bio medical image processing. Its also

used in autonomous vehicle like SUVs. The computer vision technique basically includes

four processes.

1. Recognition: One of the main task of computer vision technique is to determinewhether the particular object contain the useful data or not.

2. Motion Analysis: Motion analysis includes several tasks related to estimation ofmotion where an image sequence is processed continuously to detect the velocity at

each point of the image or in the 3D scene.

3. Scene Reconstruction: Computer vision technique employs several methods torecreate a 3D image from the available images of a scene.

4. Image Restoration: The main of aim of this step is to remove noise from an givenimage. The simplest method involves using simple filters like low pass or median

filters. In order to get better quality images more complex methods like Inpainting are

used.

1.3.4 Radio Frequency Identification

Radio frequency identification systems transmit the identity of an object wirelessly,

using radio magnetic waves. The main purpose of a radio frequency identification system is

to enable the transfer of a data via a portable device. The portable device is commonly known

as tag. The data send by the tag is received and processed by a reader according to the needsof the application. The data send by the tag contains various informations identification or

location of the information, or specifics about the product that has been tagged, for example

price, color, date of purchase, etc. This technology gained importance because of its ability to

track moving object. A typical radio frequency tag consists of a microchip attached to a radio

antenna which is mounted on a substrate. To retrieve the data from the tag a reader is needed.

A typical radio frequency reader consists of two antennas that emit radio waves and at the

same are capable of accepting the signals from the tag. The reader then passes the

information that it has received to a computer device in digital form. The computer then

interprets this digital data and processes it. Radio frequency identification techniques arewidely used in the fields like asset tracking, supply chain management, manufacturing,


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payment systems etc. One of the major advantages of devices using radio frequency

technology over other similar devices is that RFID devices need not be positioned precisely

relative to the scanner. But till then there are certain areas of concern for this technology.

Some problem related to this technology is tag collision and reader collision. Usually the

reader collision occurs when the signals from two or more readers overlap, while tag collisionoccurs when many tags are present in a small area.


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2.1 ADVANTAGES OF SIXTH SENSE DEVICES

2.1.1 Portable

One of the main advantages of the sixth sense devices is its small size and portability.

It can be easily carried around without any difficulty.The prototype of the sixth sense is

deigned in a such a way that it gives more importance to the portability factor. All the devices

are light in weight and the smart phone can easily fit into the users pocket.

2.1.2 Support multi touch and multi user interaction

Multi touch and multi user interaction is another added feature of the sixth sense

devices. Multi sensing technique allows the user to interact with system with more than one

than one finger at a time.. Sixth sense devices also in-cooperates multi user functionality.

This is typically useful for large interaction scenarios such as interactive table tops and walls.

2.1.3 Cost effective

The cost incurred for the construction of the sixth sense proto type is quiet low. It was

made from parts collected together from common devices. And a typical sixth sense device

cost up to $300. The sixth sense devices have not been made in large scale for commercial

purpose. Once that happens its almost certain that the device will cost much lower than the

current price.

2.1.4 Connectedness between real world and digital world

Forming a connection between the real world and the digital world was the main aim

of the sixth sense technology.

2.1.5 Data access directly from the machines in real time

With help of a sixth sense device the user can easily access data from any machine at

real time speed. The user doesnt require any machine-human interface to access the data.

The data access through recognition of hand gestures is much easier and user friendlier

compared to the text user interface or graphical user interface which requires keyboard or

mouse.


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2.1.6 Mind map the idea anywhere

With the advent of the sixth sense device, requirement of a platform or a screen to

analyse and interpret the data has become obsolete. We can project the information into any

any surface and can work and manage the data as per our convenience.

.

2.1.7 Open source software

The software that is used to interpret and analysis the data collected bythe device is

made open source. This enables other developers to contribute to the development of the

system


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2.2 APPLICATIONThe sixth sense technology finds a lot of application in the modern world. The sixth

sense devices bridge the gap by bringing the digital world into the real world and in that

process allowing the users toiu interact with the information without the help of any machine

interfaces. Prototypes of the sixth sense device have demonstrated viability, usefulness and

flexibility of this new technology. According to the words of its developers the extend of use

of this new device is only limited by the imagination of human beings. Some practical

applications of the sixth sense technology is given below

2.2.1 Map Application

With the help of a map application the user can call upon any map of his/her choice

and navigate through them by projecting the map on to any surface.By using the thumb and

index fingers movements the user can zoom in, zoom out or pan the selected map.

2.2.2 Taking Pictures

Another application of sixth sense devices is the implementation of a gestural camera.

This camera takes the photo of the location user is looking at by detecting the framing

gesture. After taking the desired number of photos we can project them onto any surfaces andthen use gestures to sort through those photos and organize and resize them.

The user taking making a pose gesture The camera takes the photo of the

location

Fig. 2.1. Fig. 2.2


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2.2.3 Drawing Application

The drawing application allows the user you to draw on any surface by tracking the

fingertip movements of the users index finger. The pictures that are drawn by the user can be

stored and replaced on any other surface. The user can also shuffle through various pictures

and drawing by using the hand gesture movements

2.2.4 Making Calls

We can make calls with help of sixth sense device .The sixth sense device is used to

project the keypad into your palm and the using that virtual keypad we can make calls to

anyone.

2.2.5 Interacting with physical objects

The SixthSense system also helps to interact with physical objects we use in a better

way. It augments physical objects by projecting more information about these objects

projected on them. For example, a gesture of drawing a circle on the users wrist projects an

analog watch on the users hand. Similarly a newspaper can show live video news or dynamic

information can be provided on a regular piece of paper

Newspaper showing live feeds an analog watch projected into the wrist

Fig. 2.3

2.2.6 Getting Information

Sixth sense devices can be used for getting various information relating to our

everyday life by getting in contact with objects

2.2.7 Product Information:

Sixth sense technology uses marker technology or image recognition techniques to

recognize the objects we pick in our hand and then provide information relating to that

product.


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2.2.8 Book Information:

By holding and shuffling through the book pages, the sixth sense provides Amazon

ratings on that book, other reviews and other relevant things related to the book.

2.2.9 Flight Updates:

With the help of the sixth sense technology it is no longer required to log into any

sites for checking the status of the flights. The system will recognize your boarding pass and

let you know whether the flight is on time or not.

2.2.10 Information About People:

With help of face recognition techniques the sixth sense devices are able to provideinformation about the people when we meet them. The sensor detects the face and checks the

data base for the relevant information.The system will then project the relevant information

about a person like what they do, where they work,

Boarding pass showing current status The information about a person being

projected

Fig. 2.4 Fig. 2.5


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2.3 WAY FORWARD

Upcoming Projects Making Use of the Sixth Sense Technology

2.3.1 Mouse less:

Mouse less is a concept which is developed in order to avoid the usage of mouse in

computers. It helps to provide a familiarity of the physical mouse without actually requiring a

physical mouse.

Fig. 2.6

Even though the computer hardware technology has been developed to a greater extent, still

there has been no proper substitute for a physical mouse. This new invention aims to remove

the requirement of having a physical mouse altogether but still it provides the feeling of a

physical mouse that users are familiar with.It basically consists of an Infrared laser beam and

an Infrared camera. Both laser and camera are embedded together with the computer. The

laser beam module is modified with a line cap and placed such that it creates a plane of IR

laser just above the surface the computer sits on. The user cups their hand, as if a physical

mouse was present underneath, and the laser beam lights up the hand which is in contact with

the surface. The IR camera detects those bright IR blobs using computer vision. The change

in the position and arrangements of these blobs are interpreted as mouse cursor movement

and mouse clicks.

2.3.2 Third Eye:

Third Eye is a new technique that enables multiple viewers to see different things on

a same display screen at the same time.


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Fig. 2.7

With thirdEye, - We can have a public sign board where a Japanese tourist sees all the

instructions in Japanese and an American in English. - We don't need to have the split screen

in games now. Each player can see his/her personal view of the game on the TV screen. -

Two people watching TV can watch their favourite channel on a single TV screen. - A public

display can show secret messages or patterns. - In the same movie theatre, people can see

different end of a suspense movie.

2.3.3 Inktuitive:

Even though there has been a tremendous development of computer aided

designing tools, still paper and pencil is the preferred by most of the designers,

especially in the earlier stages of designing

Fig. 2.8

The project inktuitive is aimed to combine the process of creation that is inherent in paper

and pencil with the power of computing that the digital design tools provide. It also extends

the natural work-practice of using physical paper by giving the pen the ability to control the

design in physical three-dimensional space, freeing it from its tie to the paper. There always

remains an intuition of pen and paper ,but the lines that have been drawn are be captured and

translated into shapes in the digital world. The physical paper is augmented with overlaid

digital strokes. The platform provides a novel interaction mechanism for drawing and

designing using above the surface pen movements. In other words inktuitive can be


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considered as an intuitive physical design workspace that aims to bridge the gap and bring

together the conventional design tools such as paper and pencil with the power and

convenience of the digital tools for design.

2.3.4 TaPuma:

TaPuma is the short form of Tangible Public Map. It is another attempt to bring the

digital world nearer to the real world by exploring the techniques of sixth sense technology.

Key word based search mechanism has vastly influenced and modified the ways in which we

search informations. The keyword based search allows the user to filter out the required data

from the vast data that are available on search engines such as yahoo and Google. TaPuma

allows people to use their own belongings, the objects they usually carry with them to accessrelevant and just-in-time information and locations of places from a public map. The project

also explores and analyzes the advantages and challenges of this novel interaction

mechanism, where real life objects serve as the interface for information acquirement. The

broad concept behind the project Ta Puma is Object Amelioration, where the functions of

everyday objects can be expanded by using their affordances or functionalities in a variety of

different contexts.


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3.1 CONCLUSION

The sixth sense technology and devices are definitely the way forward. The sixth

sense recognizes the objects around us and displays the information relating to those objects

in a real time environment. The sixth sense technology allows the user to interact the

information through hand gestures. This is a quiet efficient way compared to the text and

graphic based user interface. It has the potential to form the transparent user interface for

accessing the information around us. . Even though the sixth sense devices are currently in

development stages and have not been used in large now, its quiet predictable that this

technology have the potential to revolutionise the way in which we interacts with the digital

world. As MrPranavMistry says imagination of the human brain is the only thing that could

limit the application of the sixth sense technology


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3.2 REFERNCES

http://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology.htm

http://www.commoncraft.com/augmented-reality-video http://www.arcane-technologies.com/en/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality http://www.rfidjournal.com/ http://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Health__Science/Sixth_sense_gizmo_a_sci-

fi_reality/articleshow/4083978.cms

http://www.gesturetek.com/

444 Sixth Sense Technology

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