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Project-Natal-Style Interface For Mobile Phones
An anonymous reader writes "The University of Tokyo is developing a Project-Natal-style interface for mobile phones, which allows you to interact with a phone by waving your finger around. Members of the Ishikawa-Komuro Lab have used a high-frame-rate camera to track the motion of a finger and recognise input gestures. The touchless interface can be used to navigate around a phone's screen and even to type."
The danger for users of porn is clear and present.
neuro at well dot com (when I post, it's my opinions, no-one elses)
I can understand the appeal of Natal because it lets four people interact with a piece of hardware without holding anything. But if you already have to hold the phone, it seems more than a bit ridiculous to be finding ways to not touch it with your other hand. It's like finding a way to chew your food without it touching your tongue...
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
The implications on security in regards to hacking are interesting - you could in theory try to brute-force someone's phone from a slight distance, say next to them on a city bus. Not having to leave fingerprints on someone's device as well is another positive, as it is based on gestures. Especially handy for devices where wireless is protected or not enabled! Even if it took a picture to see who was gesturing, I'm sure you could get out of the way and just have your hand in the frame.
I guess I understand some of the 'neato' factor that this could have, but isn't one of the big issues introduced with simple touchscreens the LACK of haptic feedback?
I love my iphone, but I miss being able to just reach into my pocket and dial a call, or skip a song/rewind, etc. Having to pull my phone out every time I want to do anything other than change the volume is damned annoying.
I could just see this kind of interface being more annoying to use.
Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj
I was really impressed by the smoothness and accuracy that the camera was able to track the finger movements. Usually, things like this are really jumpy and horribly inaccurate. Although it's not the best way to type things in, I'm sure there will be a ton of cool applications of this.
...if all those flamboyant choreographies from anime are any indication.
One that hath name thou can not otter
This would be pretty cool to slap into some public use areas like train stations, airports, movies, etc... Half the touchscreens I've used in public areas are always broken(or half working) after a couple years from people pounding on the screen when it won't respond. Slap a piece of plexiglass in front of it that you can replace when it gets damaged, saves the expense of a whole new touchscreen.
The cool, practical implications for hand-held devices start coming to mind if this is combined with a touch screen.
(The camera would also need to be less obtrusive, and able to detect fingers just above the touch screen.)
For stepping on some of their zillion iPhone patents.
We already have enough Bluetooth headset users walking around giving the appearance that they are talking to themselves. Now these same people are going to look like they are having their solo discussions in sign language.
The iPhone 4 prototype that leaked has second camera that faces the user. It could go gesture recognition as well. However, the last thing I want is a less accurate means to control my phone. Why wave my fingers in front of the phone, when I could just extend my fingers slightly more and touch the screen?
http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
I want a mobile with a laser projected keyboard, and a light-protected screen. With the normal screen and touchscreen keyboard as a backup when there are no good surfaces around, of course. Seems the most obvious (and cool) way to get the necessarily large IO devices "into" a small form factor.
I haven't actually tried a laser keyboard though. Anyone know if they're actually usable for serious work?
So, can I assign "thrust middle finger into air" to the speed dial for my ex wife?
Considering that Natal hasn't even launched yet, other groups might want to hold off and see what the reception is to Natal before they start copying it. I for one bought a Wii and was sorely disappointed in the non-precision of the wii-mote. I also have an Xbox and I fear that Natal will be just as annoying. I hope some cool uses of it are created though.
Are you making a phone call or miming being stuck in a box?
-- Two men say they're Jesus. One of them must be wrong. - Dire Straits
I can barely type well with an onscreen keyboard, and soon they'll want me to air-type? No thanks.
How about parsing ASL (American Sign Language)?
Then again, finger spelling might be easer - since that only involves one hand, rather than both and the body, letting you hold the phone in the other and reducing the camera requiremens. Also a much more limited "vocabulary" consisting mainly of the letters and numbers.
Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
Are you telling me that my multiplayer eyetoy games doesn't work? That Eyetoy Pet doesn't work? What are you trying to say?
This is blinging
For those asking how it is an improvement over a touchscreen: There can be a ratio of finger movement vs. cursor movement, that is, a mid-air keyboard can be made much larger than an on-screen keyboard.