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LaserTouch employs an infrared camera and a laser mesh system to track the user's movements across a display or projected image. Software then interprets the gestures and applies them to the application in use.

The system has some similarities with Microsoft's table-top Surface, notably the use of cameras rather than touchscreen technology to track movement. But unlike Surface which is designed for commercial

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retail and leisure use and costs between $5,000 and $10,000 for a singe unit, LaserTouch makes use of low-cost components, which should bring the cost down to just a few hundred pounds.

Microsoft says the software powering LaserTouch was the same used in Bill Gates' recent Touch Wall demonstration, but it notes that there are still a number of technical challenges to be overcome before the technology is viable. One significant hurdle, explained Microsoft researcher Andy Wilson, is multiple users, where one obstructs the camera's view of the others actions.

But even if the technology does not make it to market, the research will still be valuable, Wilson said, as Microsoft looks to cut the cost of movement sensing for gaming and other applications.

[photo: Microsoft Surface = Tabletop PacMan by Matthew Haggerty]