Disney patent: playing computer games on dining table with board as steering wheel

Disney is working on a system to turn dining tables into a system for augmented reality. Users could play games projected on the table using physical objects as controllers, such as a board to determine the course of a virtual ship.

Disney is working on the technique to control the games on the table with hands, “because a game controller is not always available,” the patent application states. It seems the intention is that the computer system detects the position of the arms and hands and displays it in the game world that the same computer projects on the table. In addition, physical objects must be usable in the virtual world. Because the games work with a mix of physical and virtual elements, Disney calls it an augmented reality system.

It is unknown what Disney would like to use the technique for, but it would fit, for example, in the theme parks that the film studio has. For example, visitors could play games in which cutlery plays a role on tables in restaurants while waiting for food.

The patent application itself gives the example of a ship projecting the computer onto the table. Players could steer the ship by using the board on the table as the ship’s wheel. It is unknown if and when Disney would like to start using the system.

There are already many implementations of projectors that allow control via the hands, for example via a touch-sensitive part of the surface. Using physical objects in that control is a rarer technique.