Researchers at the MIT Media Lab have developed a rather remarkable device known as ZeroN — a “tangible interface element” that can levitate and move within a three-dimensional space. Created by research assistant Jinha Lee and Rehmi Post of the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms, ZeroN can be manipulated by both humans and computers. Once a user places the ball-like magnet within the simulation space, he or she can digitally program its movements, or physically guide it themselves. Because the device can “remember” its trajectory, any gesture-controlled paths can be played back indefinitely.
ZeroN magnetic levitation system can play back movements in space
Researchers at the MIT Media Lab have developed a rather remarkable system known as ZeroN — a “tangible interface element” that can levitate and move within a three-dimensional space.
Researchers at the MIT Media Lab have developed a rather remarkable system known as ZeroN — a “tangible interface element” that can levitate and move within a three-dimensional space.
To do this, Lee and Post created a magnetic control system that can levitate the ZeroN, along with an optical tracking and display setup that projects images onto the floating object. Lee says his creation offers a variety of practical applications, including enhanced simulations of planetary movements, but emphasizes that there’s a larger symbolism behind his work. “ZeroN,” he writes, “is about liberating materials from the constraints of space and time by blending the physical and digital world.” For a more detailed explanation of the physics behind ZeroN, be sure to read Lee and Post’s paper.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
