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Panasonic Lifewall Is the All-Knowing Gesture-Controlled TV of the Future
Posted by John Herrman at 7:00 AM on October 3, 2008
If only the ancient Chinese Had Panasonic's LifeWall, they could have fended off nomadic tribes with HDTV instead of bricks and battlements. But since we live in the future, we can shut out the rest of the world with television that not only stretches from floor to ceiling, it follows people around the room. Panasonic's prototype LifeWall, exhibited at CEATEC outside Tokyo, is a room-sized screen that tracks and remembers users with face recognition, which the firm calls You-Know-Me-TV.
If only the ancient Chinese Had Panasonic's LifeWall, they could have fended off nomadic tribes with HDTV instead of bricks and battlements. But since we live in the future, we can shut out the rest of the world with television that not only stretches from floor to ceiling, it follows people around the room. Panasonic's prototype LifeWall, exhibited at CEATEC outside Tokyo, is a room-sized screen that tracks and remembers users with face recognition, which the firm calls You-Know-Me-TV.
Video you're watching is optimised for size depending on your distance from the wall. And when you walk away, it follows so that you never miss a commercial (Stay-With-Me-TV). IP cameras allow for life-sized videophone conferencing and remote learning. One of the niftiest functions is virtual photo manipulation, like in the cliched movie with Tom Cruise, allowing selection, rotation, zooming and discarding of images by arm motions alone (Easy-Gesture-TV). Panasonic allowed members of the public to try this out at CEATEC. The interface is basically intuitive but takes a fair bit of practice to master (the demo guy also admitted to aching arm muscles, and he's got another five to ten years to go before commercialisation).
The tech uses range imagery sensors and what's called Time of Flight light tracking for real-time 3D image processing. Finally, LifeWall can act as wallpaper or decor, giving the room a new look whenever fancy strikes. Exposed brick, anyone? - Tim Hornyak
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Xavoc
Posted 7:29 AM 3/10/08
I want to know if it will mute the tv when I flip off a commercial. Or hell, could it just come with built-in preach-nix?
Xavoc
evilmartian
Posted 7:14 AM 3/10/08
awesome! I mean, c'mon everybody, this is a sweet system.
evilmartian
Fourstring85
Posted 7:11 AM 3/10/08
Fahrenheit 451, anybody?
Fourstring85
phoenix27
Posted 7:08 AM 3/10/08
KAWAIIIIII!
phoenix27
NeoXY
Posted 7:08 AM 3/10/08
...can anyone tell me the name of the song? lmfao
NeoXY
UncleArgyll
Posted 7:06 AM 3/10/08
@tamaudio: UI doesnt bother me, I just dont like moving more than my thumb to operate my TV.
UncleArgyll
hatboysam
Posted 7:05 AM 3/10/08
They're just so..... asian
hatboysam
tamaudio
Posted 7:04 AM 3/10/08
I hope they get their UI fixed in the next five years, that looked horrible.
tamaudio
UncleArgyll
Posted 7:02 AM 3/10/08
Better Caption: Human Like Raptor Dinosaur watches TV.
UncleArgyll
Xavoc
Posted 7:52 AM 3/10/08
@Trowble (XBL/PSN): It tells you that ceiling cat is watching you.
Xavoc
spider2544
Posted 7:43 AM 3/10/08
@NeoXY:
no kidding i want to know the song too haha.
i hope that cute girl waving around in front of the TV comes with the system
spider2544
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
Posted 7:37 AM 3/10/08
I wonder what happens when if choke the chicken or tickle the clam in front of that TV.
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
mikecoscia
Posted 7:31 AM 3/10/08
Is it a projector?
mikecoscia
Notch Johnson
Posted 8:10 AM 3/10/08
What kind of interaction can you get with a porn?
Notch Johnson
deepee
Posted 8:42 AM 3/10/08
@NeoXY:
I also want to know the song. It's quite calming.
deepee
ripfire
Posted 8:32 AM 3/10/08
@Notch Johnson: You had to ask?
ripfire
josejuan05
Posted 8:29 AM 3/10/08
They had something like this in the (admittedly disappointing movie) Babylon A.D.
Most poignant question: can you turn it off?
Disturbing answer: No, you can only change the channel.
josejuan05
Faslane66
Posted 10:59 AM 3/10/08
looked pretty lame, the interface looked very slow....the response time sucked. The guy going in circles (hands) was moving much faster than the image on screen. I dunno, I personally don't see a practical use for this at all. And the song sucked too, sorry, it just did.
Faslane66
Ziarka
Posted 11:35 AM 3/10/08
ahhhh uhh i heard this song somewhere on my computer i think its from a japanese band called perfume ill post down the name of the song if i find it when im back home.@NeoXY:
Ziarka
Ziarka
Posted 11:46 AM 3/10/08
@NeoXY: haha i think i found the song マカロニ by perfume i have no idea wats the english name is. Its by perfume and the album is Baby Cruising Love. Leave a comment if its the wrong song. The sound on the video isnt working and my memory is pretty bad but i belive its this song.
Ziarka
deepee
Posted 1:07 PM 3/10/08
@Ziarka:
Thank you so much, couldn't get this song out of my head. Found it on youtube.
Now finding the album might be a little tougher.
deepee
spader725
Posted 1:29 PM 3/10/08
@Faslane66:
Whatchu talking about, that song was awesome! More japanese vocoder pop/dance music please
spader725
001
Posted 4:15 PM 3/10/08
like the human raptor comment
001
SomeoneUKno
Posted 5:59 PM 3/10/08
@ripfire: Admit it, you were wondering as well.
SomeoneUKno
SomeoneUKno
Posted 5:59 PM 3/10/08
@Xavoc: But ceiling cat is always watching, so what would be the good of that?
SomeoneUKno
sansovino
Posted 12:24 AM 4/10/08
And the one track mind award goes to @Trowble (XBL/PSN):
sansovino
ypctx
Posted 3:15 AM 4/10/08
not impressed by the UI, but gives a nice hint that these big screens will actually be able to put other people into you room, albeit 2d-only, or 3d but not very real.
Anyway, I'm still waiting for the OLED room wall paint:)
ypctx
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
Posted 2:59 AM 4/10/08
@sansovino: I'll take my award sitting down, thank you... haha
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
GTgeek
Posted 7:18 AM 3/10/08
I know this comment is as cliche as referencing gesture controlled computers with Minority Report...but how in the world is this practical or desirable? I don't know why a company would spend so much money on a technology that will never become viable in the marketplace. The only new UI I can see that's more practical than a mouse or multitouch is that thought controlled system they're working on for the disabled. That way people can play WoW on a wall sized screen without moving at all! Except to eat their gamer grub.
GTgeek
Ornament
Posted 5:21 AM 8/10/08
@Fourstring85: yes yes yes, that and your seashell (ipod) and the next thing is mile long billboards.
Ornament