IT abroad: Innovative 3D interface unveiled

Researchers of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab (USA) have developed an experimental interface that represents a combination of gestures, tactile feedback and 3D visuals encompassed in a tile-like display.

Device called Recompose is a touch-based interface that touches back with the help of physical tiles (like the keys on a keyboard) installed on small pedestals that go up or down on direct input or gestural input. The most interesting feature, however, is the ability of the invention to act as a display, which can be useful for CAD designs, complex maps or scientific visualizations. Since it's a grid of physical objects, it can display topography information and charts visually in 3D.

Recompose is built on the back of another Media Lab innovation — the Relief table, which too consisted of motorized tiles and was able to create 3D maps.