A 2-Way Laser-Assisted Selection Scheme for Handhelds in a Physical Environment

We present a 2-way selection method to select objects in a physical environment with a novel feedback and transfer of control mechanism. A modulated laser pointer signal sent from a handheld device triggers a photosensitive tag placed in the environment. The tag responds via a standard wireless channel directly to the handheld with information regarding an object it represents. We describe a prototype implementation for a Motorola iDEN i95cl cell phone, discuss the interaction challenges and application possibilities for this physical world selection that extends a common handheld device. We also compare this solution to related attempts in the literature.