Nintendo has patented some technology that projects an image onto a hilly or uneven surface. I think we can all assume that this isn't coming to the NX seeing as it's launch is 6 months out, but can you imagine this becoming a viable technology? Read the description for the device below via Free Patents Online...
The present invention implements a projection system which appropriately corrects geometric distortion of a projected image even when an object to be projected has an arbitrary three-dimensional shape and a user's point of view is not fixed. A projection unit (3) of a projector device 100 projects a first adjustment test image. A three-dimensional shape measurement unit (4) measures a three-dimensional shape of the object to be projected. An image capturing device (200) captures the first adjustment test image projected by the projection unit (3), and acquires a first adjustment captured image. A projected image adjustment unit (1) executes: (1) first adjustment processing for, on the basis of the first adjustment captured image acquired by the image capturing device (200), correcting the image such that geometric image distortion is reduced at an image capturing point at which the first adjustment captured image was captured; and (2) second adjustment processing for, on the basis of a state when the image adjusted by the first adjustment processing was projected by the projection unit (3), correcting the image such that geometric image distortion is reduced.
How could this be implemented? You could have a lego village in front of you and this technology could put coins on top of buildings as well as the surface of the table in front of you. I'm sure there are more practical purposes, but that's the first thing that came to my mind.
I was talking with a friend a couple days ago about how I feel like VR is on the same level the NES was back in the 80s. It's super impressive now, but I guarantee it's going to look completely different and a hell of a lot better ten years out. Let's hope it happens a little quicker than that, this technology excites me!
