Publication Date: 11-14 Sept. 2005 Volume: 3, On page(s): III- 1300-3 ISBN: 0-7803-9134-9 INSPEC Accession Number: 8835790 Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/ICIP.2005.1530638Download entire paper in Proprietary Document Format (PDF)
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The FUNtain (TM) is a new input device in which a user inputs data by
direct interaction with fluid, such as with one or more air or water
jets. There is usually a (re)strictometer for each jet that measures
the degree of restriction of fluid flow for that jet, such that the
time-varying changes in restrictometric quantities provide an input to
another process. For example, 61 restrictometers are used to provide a
directacting waterpipe organ as a musical instrument in which notes
are played by blocking fluid (air or water) emerging from each of the
61 holes spaced along a copper pipe that forms the housing for the
musical instrument. When used with liquids, such a fluid-user
interface based on the image processing of water sprays is proposed to
create a new form of input device. In particular, the methodology
exploits the unique optical properties of fluids that become manifest
when a fountain or spray is illuminated as it would typically be for
an exhibit, display, or performance. Most notably, the form of
illumination that is most desirable for aesthetic reasons turns out to
assist simple image processing of the water flow. In this way, an
interactive performance environment is created that is ideally suited
to real-time image processing as a means of data input. The resulting
methodology gives rise to a liquid-user-interface, played by one or
more people, interacting with water jets, such as by blocking,
partially blocking, diverting, or otherwise engaging with the spray.