Gizmodo: gesture

Toshiba G55 Qosmio Has Gesture Control

Brian Lam — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:57:16 EDT

The Toshiba G55 Qosmio, great great grandson of those first Media Center lappies that Toshiba put out, can use its webcam to process gestures and remote control your music, movies and powerpoint. One of the first. Laptop Mag says it works pretty well, if not overly sensitive at times.

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]

Xbox 360 Wiimote Might Be Made By Motus, Not Gyration

Jason Chen — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:30:00 EDT

Leigh over at Kotaku did some digging around about the rumored Xbox 360 Wiimote, questioning all the parties involved (Microsoft, Rare, Gyration) and discovered some interesting facts. The most important one is that Gyration isn't working on it, but Motus probably is—they already have a precursor to it called the "Darwin".

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]

Orange Shows Off Gesture Based Interaction Screen, Touch Screens Look On in Horror

Haroon Malik — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:10:00 EST

Orange has unveiled a gesture based interaction screen that has been produced by a UK agency on their behalf. The agency, known as The Alternative, said it was the first time such a display had been on show to the general public. The purpose of the technology is mainly as an advertising opportunity for Orange, but selecting your favorite music clips have never been so fun. Check out the clip to see what all the fuss is about.

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]

Hand Gesture Watch Needs No Buttons

Mark Wilson — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:53:40 EDT

In a case of divine irony, the smaller and more desirable our gadgets become, the harder they would be to use. That's why researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a watch that can be controlled by gesturing, eliminating tiny controls not meant for our mortal caveman hands.

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]

Hand Gesture Universal Remote

Mark Wilson — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:52:20 EDT

Australian scientists have developed a remote that sits by your TV and tracks hand gestures to operate your television, DVD player and up to 6 other devices (basically, as many as you can shake a fist at...heh).

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".

We're not entirely certain what happens when you give a friend the thumbs up, but at least the channel shouldn't change every time you pick your nose. Look for the device being marketed in about three years, and probably being less efficient than the remotes we have now. [international reporter via therawfeed]

Multi Touch Gesture Interface

blongo3 — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 13:48:53 EST

Here's an example of how you will interact with the iPhone, on a bigger scale.– Ben Longo

The Loop: Motion-Controlled Point & Click For Your TV

blongo3 — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:50:57 EST

It looks like the bandwagon has officially commenced for the Nintendo Wii. Case in point, the Loop. A new ring-shaped remote control concept that'll be coming out sometime in 2007.

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]