Tech Blog

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One of the neatest recent developments in tech is the pico projector. Basically this is a tiny little device, a little smaller than a paperback, that packs fairly good projection technology into that little size.

CES had a number of the little buggers on display, but the coolest one at the show, in my humble opinion, was one I managed to see pre-CES a few weeks earlier at the Intel Extreme Masters championship tournament at West Edmonton Mall.

The device is the Microvision PicoP projector / gaming controller - illustrated to the right.

Basically, it's a multi-axis free-form game controller/uber-tiny projector hybrid device mounted in an assault-rifle controler. Obviously intended for the combat/shooter set.

My experience with the controller was very cool. Since the projector is mounted on the gun, your 'screen' is wherever you're aiming point is. For my demo, we were in a white-walled semicircular room.

Movement controls are embedded into the grips on the gun. But your field of view is controlled by gun movement -- pan the gun left, and your view pans left. Aim up and the view also shifts up. It's kind of hard to explain, but this video from CES will make it clearer.



Obviously this controller is for hardcore shooter-style gaming. But the really cool point is that this projector / hardware combo could be used in other types of controllers too, perhaps an aviators helmet for flight games, or really any type of game that supports the first-person viewpoint.

The only other caveat is that this type of interface really changes the game dynamic -- you're not tied to a desk/keyboard/mouse any more. In fact, as I was working with the gun controller, I was standing up, using the gun controls for everything. Eventually, my arms started to tire -- this game was a workout of a different sort. This type of tech will work for some games, but not all, just like the Wii's controllers can dramatically alter a game's experience from the same title on a PC or other console.

But all things considered, mashing projectors and controllers (or cameras -- Nikon has a cool hybrid) is a logical mashup we're sure to see more of in the next few years.