Gesture Control for Tablets and Other Mobile Devices

Sometimes it's nice to be able to set down even a small device, even a so-called hand-held device, and control it from several feet away.

Here's a demo of gesture control of a music app running on a small laptop. This is a prototype; final hardware would be integrated in a tablet or other mobile device.



I like the idea of being able to control the volume of music without touching the device playing it. Nice demo.

To learn more about TYZX, the company behind this demo, click here.

Gesture Control Demo

One of the nice things about visiting clients is getting a glimpse of new technology that will be showing up soon in our offices or our living rooms.

Case in point: Here's a demo of a gesture control system that uses stereo vision to detect people and objects at 60 fps. The TYZX G3 Embedded Vision—that's the small white camera mounted above the flat-panel display—enables a user to manipulate images simply by moving his hands.



The TYZX G3 camera system shown here works both indoors and outdoors.

For more information, check out TYZX.

Smaller, Faster, Easier

Computing is going lightweight. The first laptops were more luggable than portable. You risked putting your back out carrying an early Mac laptop.

Over time, though, laptaps did really become light. And powerful. And thin. Now have laptops so thin that you can pack them in envelopes and call them Air.

But sometimes you don't need a device at all—even an iPad, netbook, or remote control wand.

The next generation of devices, such as televisions and some compute systems, will include 3D vision cameras that can interpret hand signals.

It's sign language for communicating with the digital world.

Here's a sign of the times: 3D vision company TYZX has received a Notice of Allowance for a new patent for using stereo vision (3D) cameras to read gestures for controlling systems such as televisions. TYZX's 3D vision systems work in variable lighting conditions and process data at 60 fps. A snap of the fingers in other words—or a wave that can be interpreted and acted upon.

The TYZX Web site has more information about their ultra-fast, ultra-compact visions systems, which are in use today in robots, interactive art installations, security systems, and more.

Photo of a hand by striatic. CC Some Rights Reserved.