---
title: "This MIT Invention Turns The Digital World Into Physical Reality (Video)"
description: "inFORM is a Dynamic Shape Display; It can render 3D content in such a manner that users can interact with digital information in a tangible way. Ultimately, with this device, someone can pick up a flashlight (or any other object) when they are miles away. Can you roll a ball without touching it, or you mold an..."
date: "2015-01-20"
modified: "2015-01-20"
authors:
  - name: "Futurism"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/admin"
url: "https://futurism.com/this-mit-invention-turns-the-digital-world-into-physical-reality-video"
categories:
  - "From Quarks to Quasars"
---

# This MIT Invention Turns The Digital World Into Physical Reality (Video)

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/flashlight_remotesite.jpg>)

inFORM is a [Dynamic Shape Display](<http://tangible.media.mit.edu/project/inform/>); It can render 3D content in such a manner that users can interact with digital information in a tangible way. Ultimately, with this device, someone can pick up a flashlight (or any other object) when they are miles away. Can you roll a ball without touching it, or you mold an object with a wave of the hand? MIT's Tangible Media Group has made them both reality.

Indeed, inFORM can interact with the physical world around it; it can, for example, move objects across a table’s surface. In fact, with this system, remote participants in a video conference can be displayed physically, allowing for a strong sense of presence and the ability to interact physically at a distance.

Dynamic Physical Affordances and Constraints with the inFORM system are built on top of a state-of-the-art shape display, which provides for variable stiffness rendering and real-time user input through direct touch and meaningful interaction. A set of example applications demonstrates how dynamic affordances, constraints and object actuation can create novel interaction possibilities... Very cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krq_8D94ifY

# See Also:

- [Introducing the “Sea Tree”](<https://futurism.com/introducing-sea-tree>)
- [15 Futuristic Technologies You’ll Probably See In Your Lifetime](<https://futurism.com/15-futuristic-technologies-youll-probably-see-lifetime>)
- NASA Tech That You Probably Use Every Day (infographic)
- [10 Real Technologies That Could Help Make Us Immortal](<https://futurism.com/10-real-technologies-help-make-us-immortal>)
- [New Technology Shows Nurses Where Your Veins Are](<https://futurism.com/new-technology-shows-nurses-veins>)

*(From MIT's Tangible Media Group)*