At the University of Tokyo, the Naemura Group is researching interactive ways of presentating information, using a projector that communicates through visible light.

A visible-light communication projector can add information to the projected image, by making each pixel in the image flash at high speed. Because the flashing occurs 10,000 times per second, the display appears normal to the human eye. But if you place a light-receiving device near the picture, the device can read information from the different flashing patterns made by each pixel.

“Right now, I think you can see the picture floating in space. If you move this rod, the floating picture also moves in line with the rod. The tip of the rod has a light-receiving device, which obtains information about its position within the image, and the image changes in line with that.”

Embedding position data in each pixel enables interaction between the light-receiving device and the display, so an LCD touchpanel can be created. By developing this using an optical system, it’s possible to show a picture in the air and operate a touchpanel on the imaging surface.

“Regarding projection, currently, big-screen displays with a touchpanel are common, but naturally, there are limits on the display size. You can’t make the display larger or smaller to meet particular needs. But with our system, no matter where the projector is, you can interact with the picture, whatever the size. Regarding the pictures in the air, we think this system could be developed as a new interface, using the advantage of being able to interact even though there’s nothing in the space.”

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