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SixthSense Augmented Reality Device Goes Open Source

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November 12th, 2009 by Aaron Saenz
  Filed under virtual reality.
At TEDIndia Pranav Mistry announced that his SixthSense system would be open source.

At TEDIndia Pranav Mistry announced that his SixthSense system would be open source.

Have you ever looked at an object in a display window and wondered how much it cost? Or have you seen someone you’ve met before but can’t remember their name? It’s time you got MIT’s version of the sixth sense. The creation of Pranav Mistry, the SixthSense system combines a pocket sized projector, a mirror, cell phone, and a camera to create an augmented reality experience you can carry around on your person. We explored some of the amazing capabilities of SixthSense back in February and things have only gotten better since then. At the recent TEDIndia conference, Mistry announced that he would be making SixthSense available through an open source license. That’s right, you’ll be able to build your own device and upload the software for free. How cool is this thing? Just check out the standing ovation that Mistry and his MIT advisor Patty Maes received at an earlier TED conference in the video after the break.

Patched together from off the shelf components, Mistry has stated that the SixthSense system will likely cost less than $350. To facilitate the proposed open source licensing of the device, Mistry will provide instructions in how to assemble the hardware as well as provide the free software to run the components in tandem. That’s great news to everyone interested in the device, and better news to everyone who believes in the open source and open hardware movements. As more developers demonstrate that open licenses promote product improvement and create a more competitive device, we could see more innovators willing to try it. So thanks to Mistry for creating an awesome piece of technology and even bigger thanks for having the foresight to let that technology be accessible to everyone.


[photo credit: TEDIndia]
[video credit: TED 2009]

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  • http://www.cyber-junk.de/reality/augmented/sixthsense-augmented-reality-device-goes-open-source/ SixthSense Augmented Reality Device Goes Open Source | Augmented Reality

    [...] SixthSense Augmented Reality Device Goes Open Source – http://singularityhub.com/2009... 3 minutes ago from Singularity Hub – Comment – [...]

  • http://newsblog.twitwp.com/automated-entried/sixth-sense-technology-will-be-open-source "Sixth Sense Technology" Will Be Open Source | Newsblog

    [...] open source on Rediff Business The importance of Sixth Sense going open source on zdnet Sixth Sense augmented reality device goes open source on Singularity Hub [...]

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sen-ONilbud/677292576 Seán O’Nilbud

    Ladies and gentlemen, hang on to your hats. We just took a big step forward. Maybe I’m going senile but I had to wipe away a tear* after seeing his TED presentation.

    *Nothing to do with that GB lunatic.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sen-ONilbud/677292576 Seán O’Nilbud

    Ladies and gentlemen, hang on to your hats. We just took a big step forward. Maybe I’m going senile but I had to wipe away a tear* after seeing his TED presentation.

    *Nothing to do with that GB lunatic.

  • nabeel

    MIND BLOWING! but i only have one question, WHERE in the world am I going to find the INFORMATION AND SOFTWARE to make it MYSELS???

  • nabeel

    oops, typo.I ment MYSELF

  • nabeel

    MIND BLOWING! but i only have one question, WHERE in the world am I going to find the INFORMATION AND SOFTWARE to make it MYSELS???

  • nabeel

    oops, typo.I ment MYSELF

  • JAGAN.BONTHU

    excellent. idolizing knowledge of great MISTRY.Hats off.

  • JAGAN.BONTHU

    excellent. idolizing knowledge of great MISTRY.Hats off.

  • http://singularityhub.com/2010/01/29/new-hearing-aid-uses-your-tooth-to-transmit-sound/ New Hearing Aid Uses Your Tooth To Transmit Sound | Singularity Hub

    [...] components makes the device competitive. A similar device could be adapted to provide audio for a personalized augmented reality system. Perhaps the Bluetooth headset of the future will involve actual [...]

  • http://singularityhub.com/2010/02/11/technology-from-caprica-series-on-scyfy-is-already-here/ Technology from Caprica Series on ScyFy is Already Here | Singularity Hub

    [...] with that paper so it becomes a digital interface. This is classic augmented reality. Think of Pranav Mistry’s Sixth Sense device, or Light Blue Optics’ projector system either of which turns any surface into a touchscreen. [...]

  • http://singularityhub.com/2009/12/22/facial-recognition-on-facebook-video/ Facial Recognition on Facebook (Video) | Singularity Hub

    [...] allow FR to replace many uses of identification cards . In the next decade FR may synchronize with multimedia digital mobile interfaces to provide us with augmented reality information about the people we meet. The real world could [...]

  • http://singularityhub.com/2010/03/04/turn-your-body-into-your-io-with-skinput-video/ Turn Your Body Into Your I/O with Skinput (video) | Singularity Hub

    [...] theme in human computer interfaces. The Skinput system bears a strong resemblance to the I/O for Sixth Sense, Pranav Mistry’s open source personal augmented reality device. Whereas Mistry uses a camera to capture video input, Harrison has focused on acoustics. [...]

  • http://singularityhub.com/2010/03/16/slick-looking-unlocked-gsm-watchphone-available-for-199-video/ Slick Looking Unlocked GSM Watchphone Available for $199 (video) | Singularity Hub

    [...] think that personal augmented reality systems like Pranav Mistry’s Sixth Sense have got it right. Instead of shrinking the phone to the size of a watch, switch to a projector [...]

  • http://www.acceleratingfuture.com/michael/blog/2010/03/assorted-links-march-20-2010/ Accelerating Future » Assorted Links March 20, 2010

    [...] Authors Weigh In on the Singularity (video) Mitsubishi Smallest Robot Arm Builds Lego Van (video) SixthSense Augmented Reality Device Goes Open Source Robots to Rescue Soldiers How Long Until Human-Level AI? (old, but I’m linking it so everyone [...]

  • austin smith

    i want one

  • austin smith

    i want one

  • http://singularityhub.com/2010/05/10/13-open-source-hardware-companies-making-1-million-or-more-video/ 13 Open Source Hardware Companies Making $1 Million or More (video) | Singularity Hub

    [...] development communities we’ve seen such as Willow Garage, ROS, OpenWetWare, Pearl Biotech, Pranav Mistry (Sixth Sense), and more. Together these groups are part of a large trend that is re-examining the way that [...]

  • Andy T

    I am ready to build one .. but where is it ? Couldn’t see any development since let alone it’s going opensource.

  • Andy T

    I am ready to build one .. but where is it ? Couldn’t see any development since let alone it’s going opensource.

  • http://singularityhub.com/2010/05/28/mits-ridiculously-colorful-glove-is-the-latest-hand-tracking-interfacevideo/ MIT’s Ridiculously Colorful Glove is the Latest Hand Tracking Interface(video) | Singularity Hub

    [...] (from MIT’s Media Lab) uses an even simpler version of the color enhanced tracking for his Sixth Sense personal augmented reality device – with just bits of colored tape or marker caps on his fingertips. Though both of these MIT [...]

  • http://singularityhub.com/2010/07/14/mits-pranav-mistry-makes-your-computer-mouse-invisible-for-20-video/ MIT’s Pranav Mistry Makes Your Computer Mouse Invisible for $20 (Video) | Singularity Hub

    [...] is another very cool user interface solution from Mistry, who has earned widespread acclaim for his Sixth Sense personal augmented reality system. Check out a cutesy demo for mouseless in the video below. The real action begins around [...]

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