iStartedSomething has videos showing the prototype in action, and it looks like it's got quite some potential, whether genuinely useful for manipulating data or for just plain fun. I can't wait until displays like this come out so that I can control my computer by staring it down after some foolish hand waving. [iStartedSomething via Slashgear]

Still only mini game demos though, and we won't hear much more until the Tokyo Game Show on September 24. Hopefully we'll get to see some live demos of real games, along with a finalized name and date to expect it in Spring.

Also See: How Sony's PlayStation Motion Controller Works

Seriously, can somebody explain to me how can you get in the middle of the action while moving in front of a 2.4-inch screen? Gesture gaming already exists in Japan and, just by imagining it, I have the feeling it should have never left that country.

Twist, tilt, turn, smash - gesture gaming is here with the Sony Ericsson Yari

Challenge your friends to the newest invention in mobile phone gaming. Yari debuts Gesture gaming - forget about pushing buttons, with Gesture gaming you make the moves in front of the screen to get right in the middle of the action!

London, UK - May 28, 2009 - Today Sony Ericsson launches Yari the ultimate phone for mobile fun, whether it's gaming you're after or multimedia action. Nothing to hold, nothing to twist - except your body - gesture gaming technology gives users a unique gaming experience no matter where they are. With a variety of games to choose from, whether you want to keep fit and stay in shape or just want to beat your best score at tennis or boxing, Yari brings you fun wherever you are.

And with Yari there's always a new game to play. In addition to gesture games, there is a mix of pre loaded motion and standard games. Yari introduces a games carousel that allows you to access all your games from your desktop and to browse downloadable content on PlayNow(TM) arena. You can view content by category and choose to browse free or premium content - so no matter your preferences there's one to suit you.

"Yari is the industry's first mobile phone with gesture gaming outside of the Japanese market," said Catherine Cherry, Market Business Manager at Sony Ericsson. "It's time to move like you've never moved on a mobile phone before! With Gesture gaming you move your body to play instead of pressing buttons on the phone, giving you a fun experience that even helps you keep fit. If you've exhausted yourself with the games there are loads of other multimedia features to enjoy. Snap your friends with the five megapixel camera or chill out to your favourite tunes with the state-of-the art music player".

Yari
Twist, tilt, turn, smash - gesture gaming is here
Gesture and motion gaming for action on and off the screen
A/B buttons - gaming shortcut keys
Gaming carousel gives direct access to your games from the desktop
State-of-the art music player and stereo speakers for easy listening
Music call - one button press to share your favourite tracks while you talk
5.0 mega pixel camera - easily upload images to your web album
Send your location by SMS
To enhance your gaming experience Yari comes complete with the EC500 phone stand. The phone stand is small and portable and comes with an integrated keyring which makes it easy to carry thereby ensuring that you never miss an opportunity to play to your heart's content. To pump up the volume while on the move use the Outdoor Wireless Speaker MS500 - small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and so light it can be taken anywhere and everywhere.

Yari supports GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS/HSDPA 900/2100. Yari will be available in selected markets from early Q4 in the colours Achromatic Black and Cranberry White.

- ENDS -

Two students, Zhao Wencai and Li Zhoumu, invented this gesture-based car interaction as a presentation for the third China-International Road Safety Expo. Not only can you pleasure your car to start it, you can shove your middle finger in there onto a fingerprint scanner to read how high your blood alcohol level is. Another possible use is as a security system, so the car wouldn't start unless your finger belonged to one of the registered drivers.

Our prediction? These two students HAVE to be girls, or else they'd be more aware of the gesture they were promoting for this device. [Traffic Technology Today via Wired]

He can use Exposé and Application Switcher just like the newer models, and suspects all later-model MacBooks could also work. Macrumors warns that this is absolutely not recommended for the casual user, and could have awful results you and I can't even guess at, but it's definitely an impressive trick. Makes you wonder why Apple couldn't have just updated all of the older machines via a firmware upgrade, doesn't it? [Macrumors]

The webcam is trained to separate the foreground (hands) from the background (in this case, Andy's keyboard), which makes it much easier to identify different shapes made by his fingers. He can then move the cursor, click, and use two hands to perform more complex motions like stretching and pulling. He doesn't get into too much detail, partly because he has to constantly remind whoever's filming that no, this isn't magic, and no, there isn't a little person under his desk secretly making the cursor move on the screen.

The demo is really impressive for how simple Andy makes it all seem, and it'd be great to see what else he can do from this base. [MAKE]

The satellite speakers are gesture-controlled too... which inescapably brings to mind a passage from the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy about motion-control, which saves "a lot of muscular expenditure of course, but meant that you had to sit infuriatingly still if you wanted to keep listening to the same" thing.

There is a full-function RF-remote control as an alternative though. Plus there's a wireless dongle to let you stream music from a Mac or PC. Here's designer Michael Young demonstrating the unit:It's due on the shelves in early 2009, but with all that 2.4GHz wirelessness and sleek design, don't expect the price to be cheap. [EOpstech via Core77]

They say it's thanks to a the Qosmio's powerful processor, but I'm not sure if I buy that. And anyhow, I don't like to waste spare cycles on something an infrared or bluetooth remote can do just the same. Plus, this sounds a bit too much like exercise. There's a video over at [Laptop Mag]

Motus says their version of the device, possibly tied to Microsoft ("it looks like Microsoft is coming up with something, and we have something"), which will help pick up gesture-heavy games like Harry Potter's Wand Magic Waggle sell better on the 360.

No real conclusion was reached since Microsoft repeated their usual "we haven't announced anything like that," line and reiterated that their sales are great and don't need any fancy gesture gimmick. Here's what you should probably take away from this. Microsoft and Motus are becoming infinitesimally more talkative about the Wiimote project, even though nobody's outright confirming it. This makes us believe that the original rumor was at least a little bit on target. [Kotaku]

The futuristic device makes the touch UI revolution look like something from the era of the Flinstones. The gesture controls work by implementing a large projection screen and a "highly advanced piece of motion capture technology." What exactly is going on behind the scenes is not clear, but you can be assured I shall be going along for a hands-on waiving session soon. With tiny projectors in the making, it can't be too long before the gesture controlled iPhone comes out. Steve, that would be the best keynote, ever...you can't stop us from dreaming. [New Launches]

Measuring movement through five infrared sensors, four of these sensors are used for two-dimensional hand controls occurring over the watch face (like up/down, left/right and circles). The fifth sensor seems to be designated for movements of the watch itself, though that aspect of control is less clear.

With embedded Bluetooth, users could control a host of objects through a wrist interface, promoting seamless-designed devices á la The Future. As a child I was always fascinated by buttons, but I guess that my own children will laugh at such antique novelties. [discovery via technabob]

A recent prototype is said to work in all lighting situations (a huge accomplishment as anyone who has used an EyeToy would know), and software claims to tell the intentional gestures from the real ones:

A clenched fist means "start", an outstretched hand with closed fingers means "power on", a thumbs-up sign means "up" and a sideways victory sign means "channel".

The Loop lets you use hand gestures and a scroll wheel to navigate through channels. So pointing and clicking on the movies tab will give you a grid of currently playing movie poster thumbnails to select from. Hillcrest Labs, creators of the Loop, have claimed that at least one undisclosed 'major manufacturer' has licensed their technology. Whatever that means *Cough* vaporware *Cough*.

Now I'm all for innovation, but when I'm on the couch I'm usually relaxing and scrolling around. The Loop just seems like it's creating solutions for problems that aren't there. The people out there that are having trouble using today's remotes are going to be scared shitless of a remote like this, even if it is touted as being more 'intuitive'.

But the greater question is, what do you guys think? Would you use a remote like the Loop? Or would you just pass it up for something like the Harmony?

Space-age Remote Coming in 2007 [CNet]