---
key: mechanic/phone-camera--family-paper-table
type: mechanic
id: phone-camera--family-paper-table
lang: en
title: 'Paper, cards and tabletop objects'
summary: >-
The player rearranges physical pieces and the camera reads them. Osmo Tangram
matches tabletop shapes to onscreen puzzles, using its base and compatible
pieces.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-camera--family-paper-table/
jsonUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-camera--family-paper-table.json
markdownUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-camera--family-paper-table.md
aliases: []
tags:
- Phone camera interactions
- Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
- source-b165cb442deaec4e
- source-334fc4874b474465
- source-e1f89246cee53473
sources:
- id: source-b165cb442deaec4e
title: ML Kit Barcode Scanning
url: 'https://developers.google.com/ml-kit/vision/barcode-scanning'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-334fc4874b474465
title: ARCore Augmented Images
url: 'https://developers.google.com/ar/develop/augmented-images'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-e1f89246cee53473
title: Osmo Tangram
url: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-tangram/id1539533255?uo=4'
verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
- catalogId: phone-camera
id: family-paper-table
title: Phone camera interactions
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/phone-camera/#family-paper-table'
categoryIds:
- section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
preview:
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
title: 'Paper, cards and tabletop objects'
description: >-
The player rearranges physical pieces and the camera reads them. Osmo
Tangram matches tabletop shapes to onscreen puzzles, using its base and
compatible pieces.
image:
src: images/mechanics/camera-osmo-tangram-2.webp
width: 720
height: 1280
crop:
x: 0
'y': 185
width: 720
height: 1095
game: Osmo Tangram
sourceUrl: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-tangram/id1539533255?uo=4'
originalUrl: >-
https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource221/v4/bc/fc/32/bcfc32de-742d-cf03-637c-3cf428664589/16cb7312-89cf-44a2-98f5-aac575a10b85_Tangram_1242_x_2208_3.png/720x1560bb.jpg
credit: Tangible Play
rights: >-
© Tangible Play. Publisher-distributed App Store screenshot; all rights
reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
caption: 'Osmo Tangram: physical pieces and their onscreen representation'
alt: 'Osmo Tangram: physical pieces and their onscreen representation'
markers:
- x: 52
'y': 83
label: >-
The camera uses the reflector to observe pieces in front of the
phone
tips:
- >-
Provide feedback for missing pieces, occlusion and incorrect
arrangements.
examples:
- title: Osmo Tangram
url: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-tangram/id1539533255?uo=4'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/phone-camera
---
# Paper, cards and tabletop objects
id: phone-camera--family-paper-table
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/phone-camera--family-paper-table
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-camera--family-paper-table/
The player rearranges physical pieces and the camera reads them. Osmo Tangram matches tabletop shapes to onscreen puzzles, using its base and compatible pieces.
## At a glance
[Osmo Tangram](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-tangram/id1539533255?uo=4) · © Tangible Play. Publisher-distributed App Store screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
1. The camera uses the reflector to observe pieces in front of the phone
- Provide feedback for missing pieces, occlusion and incorrect arrangements.
- [Osmo Tangram](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-tangram/id1539533255?uo=4)
## How it works
The player changes the physical layout, and the phone reads its state. Dice, manuscript and unmarked tiles require separate processing. Convenient starting configuration: fixed camera, contrast field, unique markers.
## Variants
### Variants and applications
- Digitization of the drawing. Action: Draw a silhouette on paper and transfer it to the game scene. Application: Own character, children's creativity, paper editor. Technologies: Image analysis.
- Drawn level. Action: Draw walls, platforms or paths with conventional signs. Application: Maze editor, teaching algorithms, physical level design. Technologies: Image analysis.
- Paper panel. Action: Touch or cover the drawn areas under the camera. Application: Homemade remote control, music keyboard, interactive poster. Technologies: Image analysis.
- Layout of cards. Action: Change the set and order of recognized cards in order to change the program or recipe. Application: Programming for children, writing a story, crafting. Technologies: Markers.
- Physical chips. Action: Rearrange and rotate tracked pieces on the field. Application: Digital board game, tactical combat, logistics simulation. Technologies: Markers.
- Reading dice. Action: Roll contrasting dice; the camera reads the upper edges. Application: Tabletop automation, probabilistic experiments, party game. Technologies: Image analysis; Own algorithm.
- Constructor under the camera. Action: Assemble a figure from distinguishable parts and run its digital verification. Application: Geometric tasks, digital twin of a building, training. Technologies: Recognition or machine learning model; Own algorithm.
- Paper warp. Action: Fold or rotate marked paper, changing visible areas and their connections. Application: Origami puzzle, folding controller, paper interface. Technologies: Markers; Own algorithm.
## Context and limits
Games, learning, creativity and interactive applications. Author's systematization of game rules based on proven technical capabilities. Examples are application ideas and not statements of released products.
## Connected materials
## Sources and provenance
Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.
- [ML Kit Barcode Scanning](https://developers.google.com/ml-kit/vision/barcode-scanning) (id: source-b165cb442deaec4e)
- [ARCore Augmented Images](https://developers.google.com/ar/develop/augmented-images) (id: source-334fc4874b474465)
- [Osmo Tangram](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-tangram/id1539533255?uo=4) (id: source-e1f89246cee53473)
CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors