Minority Report technology comes to IDF

Technology seen in the film Minority Report has been wowing visitors to Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco this week.

A prototype data storage system has been built by GestureTek and Vizible that displays information onscreen as a globe made up of information cells. By brushing a hand across the front of the screen the globe rotates, and tapping on a cell opens it up for full screen viewing.

"You can build an interface that lets you experience information specially," said Jonathan Tice, marketing director at Vizible.

"Each cell can contain any kind of information. For example, touching the time readout opens up a day planner, local weather reports, the route to an appointment and feeds from local traffic cameras."

Sensors in the frame track the movement of the user's hands across the screen, and touch-sensitive material opens the cells when they are tapped.

The system is already up and running in an emergency response unit in a project co-sponsored by the US Department of Homeland Security. Emergency staff can cycle through maps and cameras to pinpoint problems and send out resources.