Eyal Ofek
Senior Researcher
About
I am a senior researcher in at Microsoft Research. My research interests include computer vision for human-computer interaction, Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR), Haptics and interactive projection mapping.
I am on the editorial board of IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, co-chaired the 19th ACM SIGSPATIAL 2011, and on program committee for several leading conferences. I Held a visiting lecture position at the school of computer science, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzelia, Israel.
I obtained my PhD at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and founded a couple of companies in the area of computer graphics, including the successful Photon-Paint for the Amiga computer, and managing the software R&D at 3DV Systems, developing the world first active real-time depth cameras, later bought by Microsoft in 2008. During 2004-2005 I was a researcher at Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA), working on issues such as video completion, reconstruction of hair from images, and camera based interaction, following by…
Research Highlights
Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality
I am interesting in the way that AR & VR effect and being effected by the real environment, and ways in which AR &VR can influence new experiences, for example social interaction.
Haptics
While visual display and 3D audio are progressing at a fast pase, Haptics is still and mostly untapped sense. Many times, due to the severe limitations of haptic rendering capability, there is a need to manipulate our senses to generate a convincing AR & VR experience of touch.
Interactive Projection Mapping
The use of projector enable large area augmentation that can be shared by multiple users.
Camera Based Interaction
Cameras are cheep and powerful sensors. I am looking in ways that we can leverage of cameras capabilities to compensate for the physical limitations of existing displays and input techniques.
Computer Vision
Text detection, Analysis by Synthesis, 2D & 3D completion
Introducing TORC: A rigid haptic controller that renders elastic objects
Oxymorons of haptics might be the new normal Consumer virtual reality (VR) systems can immerse users in wonderous virtual worlds, rich in sights and sounds. However, how many times have you reached for an object in VR or augmented reality…
Haptic Controllers: How Microsoft is making virtual reality tangible
Researchers at Microsoft strive to advance perhaps one of the most challenging areas of research and development in virtual reality. Mike Sinclair showcases four haptic controllers and discusses their goal to realize and deliver truly immersive and convincing tactile experiences…
Uncanny Valley and the Sense of Touch
The notion of an “uncanny valley” is well known in robotics[1]. This is when increasing the realism of a robot’s human-like appearance can lead to feelings of unease—or even revulsion—as a robot becomes more and more (but never quite fully)…
Giant steps and liberating spaces – Virtual Reality is making cool moves
Cool innovations are happening in how virtual reality researchers are resolving natural locomotion challenges and how they relate to story space, as well as in liberating users from the small, object-free player settings of today, to allow them to safely…
