What looks like modern art, is composed of multimedia technology, and keeps turning heads in the HUB-Robeson Center?

A demonstration of breakthrough technology born from Penn State research, officials say.

Advanced Interface Technologies, Inc. is responsible for the eOz.tv Infotainment Center booths located on the first and ground floors of the HUB. The booths are being launched on behalf of the Penn State Career Services in time for the fall Career Days this week to provide students with interactive information about the event.

The booths rely on "computer vision," which essentially allows users to access the computer without any physical touch. Instead, the users' arm gestures are reflected on screen and are the sole method of navigating the system.

Once inside the system, users can access both information about the fall career days and also a few different games.

Anthony Calvano (sophomore-education) was attracted to the booth because of its interesting appearance. He then used it to play an MBNA card game.

"It was pretty fun actually," Calvano said.

AIT's Director of Business Development, Abhijeet Jhaveri said the human-computer interaction technology was developed at Penn State in the computer science department in the late 1990s.

"The Computer Vision labs (at Penn State) are probably the best in the country," Jhaveri said.

In January 2000 the research project evolved into AIT, which is an independent corporation based in State College, Jhaveri said. As the contact-free computer technology developed, it garnered media attention, he said.

"The technology received a lot of acclaim in the press," Jhaveri said.

The infotainment booths underwent trial testing in the HUB and the Bryce Jordan Center for the spring career days in April, he said. This fall marks the booths' official launch and this technology is AIT's first product.

"In the infotainment arena we are probably the leaders," Jhaveri said.

AIT approached career services in time for its spring career days with the idea of field testing the equipment in conjunction with career services, Jack Rayman, director of career services said.

"Technically they've made remarkable improvements on it," Rayman said of the booths' progression since its spring trial run.

He said the booths provide students with information about the locations of different companies at the career fair and specifics about the companies that sponsor it.

"It's a very interesting and innovative way to convey information in a fun way," Rayman said.

Dmitry Gerenrot (graduate-mathematics) stopped to test the booth on his way through the HUB.

"It grasped my attention," Gerenrot said. But he only tried the infotainment center briefly because it didn't work quickly enough for him.

At the HUB Information Desk, employee Tammy Le Gars (senior-human development and family studies) said she's noticed students crowding around the booths on occasion, but hasn't had many inquiries about them.

"A lot of people are like 'oooh what are those,' " LeGars said. But behind the desk she said she's only fielded a few questions.

In commemoration of eOz.tv, university officials President Graham Spanier, Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School Eva Pell and Vice President for Student Affairs Bill Asbury will be present in the HUB this morning at 10:30 to review the booths.

The infotainment centers will remain in the HUB until Sept. 13 and will be present in the Bryce Jordan Center from Sept. 11 to 13.