Disney Research Pittsburgh Has invested huge in the development of a new gaming class. They call it: “MotionBeam: A Metaphor for Character Interaction with Handheld Projectors” It is a quite impressive system involving  motion controlled characters via apples gyroscope from their ipod, The projector can activate real objects via an infrared beam, and this is all while projected on the users wall/ceiling/tent or what ever the heck they decide to project on! (just watch the video…)  I could see this becoming very annoying on subway rides in the near future!

MotionBeam
The MotionBeam project explores the use of handheld projectors to interact and control projected characters. Physical movement of the projection device, much like a motion controller, is used to guide and interact with the character. This creates a unified interaction style where sensor input and projector output are tied together within a single device.

via motion beam

University of Texas students are developing a gaming system that incorporates a head tracking camera with a motorized pico projector. The head tracking camera senses the direction the target head is facing, and the pico projector will then move the image to in that direction.

source: picoprojector-info.com

Following the Acer K10 pico projector, the Acer C20 micro projector shows a more serious side of Acer. About the size of a smartphone, this micro projector has USB and HDMI connections with a WVGA resolution. This micro projector is only 20 lumens though, but has 2000:1 contrast.

There are also composite and component audio/video inputs as well as stereo output for better sound. Rounding out the entire package includes microSD card slot together with a USB port that supports USB Slide Show and USB Multimedia for direct playback from a memory key.

A battery for this micro projector is good for up to 2hrs use in “ECO” mode (or 1hr in regular mode) and an optional remote round out the specs.

Sapphire Technology is better known for its ATI based graphics cards.  They’ve recently launched the Mini-Projector 101.  This mini projector features the latest super bright multi-chip LED technology with a lamp good for 20,000 hours.  This mini projector comes complete with charger, tripod, video leads for PC VGA, composite video and an approved iPod / iPhone adapter.

This mini projector uses a LCoS imager and provides a 640×480 resolution at 4:3 aspect ratio with a contrast ratio of 200:1.  If you include the battery, this mini projector weighs in at 103g.

This mini projector can be used to share pictures so that you and your friends don’t need to be squinting at a tiny screen on your phone.  You can also stream videos from YouTube onto your wall when connected to an iPhone or computer!  This mini projector  can also be used for business presentations, the possibilities are endless!

So just plug in and play – shine and share ! .

Visual Enhancement Engine (VEE) is a new technology developed by Quiklogic.  The technology is aimed at increasing pico projector lumens without increasing wattage at the light source.  Pico and micro projectors can then be more effectively embedded into other devices such as mobile phones without increasing the drain on the battery.  This would make pico and mini projectors brighter without increasing power consumption.

You can read more here

Techbargains. com reviewed AAXA’s M2 projector.

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A few years ago, the idea of a pocket-sized projector would have been the stuff of science fiction. Now, not only are micro projectors reality, but the image quality and brightness are getting closer than ever to full sized projectors. The $369 AAXA Technologies M2 is the first micro-projector to feature XGA resolution, which is better than standard DVD quality, but falls slightly short of 720p resolution. Upping the ante, the M2 adds a stand-alone media player and surprisingly robust on-board stereo speakers.

• XGA Resolution (1024×768)
• 110 lumen LED lamp source with 15k hour life
• Maximum 100″ image size
• 1 gig built in memory – with SD and USB (micro) readers
• Media Player capable of handling MP4/MP3/WMA/OGG/WAV/AVI/WMV/SMV/ BMP/JPG/GIF/TXT formats
• Optional iPod, smart phone, and PSP input cables
• Wireless remote control
• Built in speakers
• HDMI, mini-VGA, and composite inputs

What We Liked

• Image Quality – You probably won’t mistake the M2’s output for a 10k HD projector, but the image quality has to be described as excellent given the cost and size of the unit. In a moderately dark room (closed blinds, but with enough ambient light to move around safely) the M2 threw a bright and clear image when placed approximately 9 feet away from the viewing screen. The micro AAXA was a snap to focus, and we had no problems at all reading on-screen text or resolving detail when viewing regular and HD programming.
• Media Player – We found that the built-in media player had no problem handling common media formats such as AVI and MP4 video, and WAV and MP3 audio. The M2, a USB drive, and a white wall are everything required to have an instant “media party.”
• On-board Speakers – We were more than a little surprised at just how usable the on-board speakers actually were. In a moderately sized room (14’x16′) the audio from the M2 was more than loud enough for casual viewing. The included media player even allows the AAXA to function as a credible source of background music in a pinch.
• LED light source – The bane of most projectors is the relatively short life and high replacement cost of the lamp assembly. We’re not aware of any lamps with sub-triple digit price tags! The M2’s LED lamps are rated for 15,000 hours of use, which is the better part of 2 years worth of continuous 24 hour usage. Compare that to the average 2000 hours a traditional projector bulb will last.
• Attractive Design – The M2 is finished in a very elegant piano black plastic with sensual curves. The overall fit and finish of the unit is well executed and conveys a feeling of solidity.
• Plays Nicely with Others – While the M2 works very nicely as a stand-alone device, we appreciated the inclusion of multiple ports (HDMI, mini-VGA, and composite) and connection cables. Available as well are optional cables for integration with smart phones, iPods, and portable gaming units.

What We Didn’t Like

• Noisy Fans – Whether our unit was out of spec, or accurately reflects current production, the M2 has front and rear panel fans that are anything but unobtrusive. We measured the fan noise at 56 dBA, 1 foot away from the unit. This is much louder than the 30 dB specification claimed by the manufacturer, and quite honestly is noisy enough to interfere with quiet dialogue, especially when using the on-board speakers.
• Slightly Clumsy Menu Structure – If you’re used to the elegant simplicity of Apple devices, you may find that the M2 menu is slightly counter-intuitive.
• Remote Hard to Use in the Dark – Lots of small buttons with small type on a shiny background made low-light usage tricky. Back lit (or glow in the dark) keys would be a welcome addition.
• Outboard Power Supply – The inclusion of an outboard power supply does take away a little of the “put it in your laptop bag and go” charm away… that said, we’ll get over it!
• Language Barrier – Although it’s just a “freebie” type feature, we were a little surprised when the picture block game was only available with Chinese menu controls, despite the global language setting being set to English.

Our Verdict

Overall, we were more than a little bit taken with the M2. The combination of excellent image quality, thoughtful integration with a variety of ancillary gear, and the included stand-alone media player (with speakers) made for a great turn-key solution for portable large-screen viewing. Let down chiefly by the intrusively loud fans, the AAXA Technologies M2 is nonetheless a worthy contender in the micro-projector arena, and a unit well worth investigating.

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5