Your Television, Now With Peripheral Vision [VIDEO]

Since the first commercial availability of the television in the 1920s, designers and engineers have continually developed new technology that–in theory–enhances the TV-watching experience. The earliest innovations include the advent of sound and color and more recent innovations include high definition and 3D.

The MIT Media Lab may have created the next evolution. The team has developed Infinity-by-Nine, which creates a simulated peripheral vision around the TV and gives the sensation of being completely surrounded by what’s being viewed on screen.

From The Verge:

The Infinity-By-Nine system developed by Daniel Novy and V. Michael Bove Jr. generates real-time blurred images based on the images on-screen, and projects them to peripheral screens using ceiling-mounted projectors — a little like Phillips’ Ambilight tech, but on a larger scale. The lack of detailed visual information is effective because peripheral vision is always out of focus, and it allows for the system to run on consumer-level hardware.

The Infinity-by-Nine project analyzes real-time on screen footage and projects vague representations to the left and right of the user, who maintains focus on the screen. According to the Media Lab, research has shown that viewers reported a greater feeling of involvement with video content, and one test subject even claimed to feel heat from an on-screen explosion.

The project has not advanced to the commercialization stage, but early indications suggest that the system will be easily adaptable for a home theater, and the perfect remedy for staying cool during a summer heat wave.

What’s your take? Do you think this would enhance your viewing experience, or is it more of a fad, a la 3D? Let us know in the comments below and on Facebook.