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Elliptic Labs To Bring Touchless Gestures To iPad

Posted by timothy on from the unhand-me-sir-unhand-me dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Elliptic Labs will reveal their Touchless Gesture User Interface technology at CES 2011. Elliptic Labs sprung forth from the signal processing environment at the University of Oslo and what they've come up with is an [iPad] dock which creates a 'touchless zone' that extends out about 1 foot in front and to the sides of the iPad screen. Users can then initiate a number of gestures, much like on Microsoft Kinect, to manipulate onscreen content."

10 of 55 comments (clear)

  1. Good, now put it in a kitchen appliance! by ThreeGigs · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I see usage scenarios for computers in the kitchen all the time, and each time I cringe at the thought of what the interfaces on those things will look like after typing/touching them with hands full of whatever foodstuffs the cook was working with. Market something like this for an iPad in the kitchen and I'd consider it useful.

    1. Re:Good, now put it in a kitchen appliance! by beschra · · Score: 2

      That was my first thought. If it works well enough, I can imagine a number of scenarios where you'd want hands-free interaction with a device. Wouldn't have to be an ipad, though. Could be anything. Since it's infrared, it may work even if the device is in a protected space behind a thick plate of glass.

      --
      It is unwise to ascribe motive
    2. Re:Good, now put it in a kitchen appliance! by PatPending · · Score: 2

      I for one don't want the ol' lady cooking with wine (sometimes she even puts it in the food!) and waving a 10" knife around while gesticulating, trying to get this frickin' Touchless Gesture User Interface Technology to find the right friggin' recipe!

      --
      What one fool can do, another can. (Ancient Simian Proverb)
    3. Re:Good, now put it in a kitchen appliance! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, sounds like a recipe for disaster!

    4. Re:Good, now put it in a kitchen appliance! by PatPending · · Score: 2

      Since it's infrared,...

      No, it's ultrasonic; this is indicated at six seconds into the video, and at their website (http://www.ellipticlabs.com/technology/). And no, infrared does not penetrate glass very well.

      --
      What one fool can do, another can. (Ancient Simian Proverb)
  2. Inefficient, clumsy, awkward appearance by PatPending · · Score: 3, Insightful

    After watching the video, I conclude this is grossly inefficient. For example, instead of touching the display and moving a finger say an inch or two, one has to move their entire arm about 18-to-24 inches.

    Also consider the unintended consequences from making these gross gestures in proximity to persons or objects: accidentally hitting someone and knocking things over (e.g., your Iced Caffè Mocha). One simply would not want to use this in a crowded, cluttered place.

    Plus one would look ridiculous the faster one tried to gesture!

    --
    What one fool can do, another can. (Ancient Simian Proverb)
  3. Re:Poor choice for name by PatPending · · Score: 2

    It's tired and I'm getting late.

    +1 FOR UNINTENTIONAL IRONY

    --
    What one fool can do, another can. (Ancient Simian Proverb)
  4. Re:Poor choice for name by eggnoglatte · · Score: 2

    And what moron tagged this "Sweden"?

  5. Re:Poor choice for name by cronius · · Score: 2

    There are six different nobel prizes, and only one of them (the peace prize) is handed out in Norway.

    --
    Life is Reality
  6. Minority by cstacy · · Score: 2

    I predict that only a minority of iPod users will enjoy the UI featured in this report.