Intel research projects bring Legos to life, make groceries interactive

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Kinect hacks aren't the only projects using depth cameras these days,
Intel's Seattle research lab has also been working on a whole range of
projects using what it describes "Kinect style" cameras, and it's now
showing off some of the results. Among the most interesting are a pair
of projects that combine a depth camera with a projector for some
rather inventive augmented reality applications. One of those examples
can effectively bring Legos to life (as pictured above), while the
other adds a whole new degree of interactivity to everyday objects,
namely groceries -- which could let you manage a grocery list using
actual fruits and vegetables, for instance, or even warn when you've
left a tub of ice cream sitting on the counter too long. That's just
scratching the surface, though -- the group has also devised a system
that can map a room just by walking around with a depth camera, which
can then of course be navigated using the very same depth camera and a
pair of 3D goggles. Head on past the break for a couple of videos, and
hit up the source link below for the rest.