LithuaniaTech is dedicated to creating inclusive and creative educational environments through their range of interactive educational devices. Their flagship product, ImSand, is an innovative sandbox and interactive table that leverages the capabilities of Orbbec Astra cameras to promote social and emotional awareness, creativity, and stress reduction.

The Challenge:

In the development of ImSand, LithuaniaTech aimed to create a tool that could provide rich, interactive experiences while being adaptable to the dynamic nature of sand-based play or interaction with wooden blocks of letters, numbers and symbols.

The key challenge was to ensure that the camera used in the system could accurately detect and respond to the subtle changes in depth and height of the sand, while also distinguishing reflective letters, symbols, and numbers from other visual noise. This precision was especially crucial for enabling ImSand to recognize and interact with multiple languages. LithuaniaTech needed a camera that was not only reliable and high-quality but also capable of seamlessly integrating into their product to deliver these precise interactions and educational activities.

The Solution:

After extensive testing and evaluation of various 3D cameras, LithuaniaTech selected the Orbbec Astra camera for its precision, adjustability, ease of integration, and cost-effectiveness. The Astra, a structured light camera, offers an economical path to adding 3D capabilities to RGB-only vision systems, making it a highly attractive option for interactive applications where depth and movement detection are critical.

Key Features of the Orbbec Astra Camera:

• High Accuracy and Precision: The structured light technology used by the Astra camera ensures detailed depth perception, which is crucial for detecting changes in the sand’s surface in real-time.
• Ease of Setup: The Astra camera is designed to be easily integrated into existing systems, reducing development time and complexity.
• Reliability: Known for its consistent performance, the Astra camera provides reliable data under various conditions, ensuring that the ImSand product delivers a seamless user experience.
• Cost-Effective 3D Integration: By offering a straightforward and economical way to incorporate 3D vision into existing RGB systems, the Astra camera enables advanced interactive features without significant additional costs.

The Orbbec Astra camera powers the interactive features of ImSand, allowing children to engage in educational games that cover subjects such as language development, math, and science. The product is versatile; with a simple lid, the interactive table transforms into a language teaching tool where children can use letter blocks to write words, form sentences, and create their own stories. This adaptability makes ImSand a valuable tool for both educators and therapists, supporting activities that enhance reading, writing, and language comprehension.

The Results:

The integration of Orbbec’s Astra camera into the ImSand product has significantly enhanced its interactive capabilities. The camera’s ability to accurately track and respond to changes in the sand’s surface has made ImSand a powerful tool for promoting creativity, reducing stress, and fostering an inclusive educational environment. Teachers and therapists have found the product particularly effective in engaging children in language and reading activities, making learning both fun and interactive.

“Since we were making a projection on a sandy surface and the camera has to react not only to the movements but also to the changing depth and height of the sand, we needed the camera to be precise and adjustable. We tried a number of 3D cameras in the development process, but the Orbbec Astra fulfilled all our requirements,” said Agnė Janušaitytė, Director of LithuaniaTech.

LithuaniaTech’s use of the Orbbec Astra camera in their ImSand product is a testament to the transformative potential of advanced 3D vision technology in educational settings. As the company continues to innovate, they trust that Orbbec cameras will be able to support their products designed to inspire creativity, enhance learning, and create inclusive environments for children of all abilities.