By using a pair of unspecified Windows Phones, Microsoft’s Kinect camera, and a touch display loaded with the Microsoft Surface 2.0 SDK, Microsoft Research has created a new multi-user tracking method that can identify a pair of individuals within a single touch-workspace with up to 92 percent accuracy. Dubbed ShakeID, the technique can be used for a new level of display-interaction in public settings by associating a user with their device.
Microsoft Research’s ShakeID uses Kinect and Windows Phone to track multiple users on a touch display
Microsoft Research has created ShakeID, a multi-user tracking method capable of distinguishing two individuals using a single touch-dusplay.
Microsoft Research has created ShakeID, a multi-user tracking method capable of distinguishing two individuals using a single touch-dusplay.
By comparing the accelerometer data from phones with Kinect’s skeletal and motion tracking data, ShakeID can distinguish the actions of two users as they touch the same screen simultaneously. Since ShakeID relies on tracking motion, the system can mismatch users if both participants hold their phones still — but the team is confident that natural movement should help avoid this problem. Additionally, the number of participants is limited to two users due to restrictions in the Microsoft Kinect for Windows SDK. While there’s no guarantee the tech will leave the lab, Microsoft Research suggests that it could be used to deliver private content from interactive displays and ads.
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