SpaceTop is a research prototype that combined a conventional desktop with a see-through display and hand-tracked 3D interaction. It let people type, click, and draw in 2D, then reach above the keyboard to manipulate interface elements floating in space. It was a research concept—not a consumer computer you can buy.
What is SpaceTop?
SpaceTop is an experimental computer interface presented by Jinha Lee, Alex Olwal, Hiroshi Ishii, and Cati Boulanger at CHI 2013. The authors describe it as a way to fuse ordinary 2D desktop interaction with spatial 3D interaction in a single workspace. Rather than replacing the desktop with a fully virtual environment, it adds a space for direct hand interaction above the keyboard.
The project is sometimes described as a computer you can “reach into.” That phrase refers to manipulating virtual interface elements in the space behind or above the transparent display; it does not mean the screen itself is physically open. The MIT project record summarizes the concept and its interaction approach.
How does the SpaceTop 3D interface work?
Transparent display and depth cameras
The documented setup combines a transparent display with depth cameras. The display lets users see the physical space behind it, while the cameras track hand movement for interaction with digital objects. Contemporary coverage described a transparent LED display and camera-monitored gestures; the project paper and record identify depth cameras as part of the configuration.
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Two kinds of interaction in one workspace
SpaceTop keeps familiar desktop actions in 2D: users can type, click, and draw. They can also use direct hand movements to manipulate interface elements positioned in 3D space above the keyboard. Depending on the task, users can switch between these modalities or use them together with different hands.
This division is the central idea: precise, familiar input remains available on the desktop, while spatial gestures provide another way to handle objects that appear to float in front of the user. The published description establishes these interaction modes, but does not provide authoritative numerical measurements for tracking latency, field of view, or input precision.
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What makes SpaceTop different from a regular computer?
| Aspect | SpaceTop concept | Conventional desktop comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Interaction | 2D typing, clicking, and drawing combined with direct 3D hand manipulation | Primarily keyboard, mouse, and touch input; no spatial hand interaction is established by the SpaceTop sources |
| Display | Transparent display, with digital elements in the space above the keyboard | Opaque, conventional screen |
| Tracking | Depth cameras are part of the documented setup | SpaceTop sources do not specify a corresponding camera-based tracking method for an ordinary desktop |
| Precision | Numerical precision or performance figures are not stated in the cited project record | Not comparable from the SpaceTop sources |
| Status | Research prototype presented in 2013 | Commercial desktop computers are established products |
Can you buy a SpaceTop computer?
No. SpaceTop was a research prototype demonstrated around TED 2013 and CHI 2013, not an established retail computer. ITV News reported on February 28, 2013 that it was a prototype and that no consumer devices were planned at that time. That statement reflects the project’s status then; the available project record does not establish a later consumer release.
A depth-sensing camera can be an ingredient in experimentation with hand tracking, but a camera alone does not recreate SpaceTop. The documented concept also depends on a transparent display and software that combines conventional desktop actions with spatial interaction.
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What SpaceTop does—and does not—demonstrate
SpaceTop demonstrates a design direction: computer interfaces can combine conventional 2D work with direct manipulation in space, rather than forcing users to choose only a mouse-and-screen model or an entirely immersive 3D environment. Its notable contribution is the combined interaction concept, not a published claim that reaching gestures outperform a mouse or keyboard.
The project materials cited here establish the hardware concept and interaction types, but do not supply numerical performance results or prove broad adoption. It is most accurate to understand SpaceTop as an early-2010s research prototype that explored how a see-through desktop might work, rather than as a product specification or a currently available PC.
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Sources
- MIT project record and authors’ abstract, CHI 2013.
- ACM publication record, CHI 2013.
- ITV News report, February 28, 2013.
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