A manipulated object using high optical contrast features and an on-board photodetector that detects light produced, reflected or scattered by the features and outputs data indicative thereof. The manipulated object uses one or more controllers to determine its position and/or orientation, including full pose, in the real three-dimensional environment based on data from the photodetector. Data from one or more auxiliary motion sensing devices, e.g., a relative motion sensor such as an inertial device or other auxiliary motion device relying on acoustics, optics or electromagnetic waves within or outside the visible spectrum, can be used to supplement the position and/or orientation data from the photodetector. The manipulated object can be embodied by any suitable device manipulated by a user, including a tablet computer or a phone.
Computer interface for manipulated objects with an absolute pose detection component