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The Leap: Gesture Control Like Kinect, But Cheaper and Higher Resolution

Posted by samzenpus on from the all-the-better-to-track-you-with dept.

MrSeb writes "It seems Minority Report-style computer interfaces might arrive a whole lot sooner than we expected: A new USB device, called The Leap, creates an 8-cubic-feet bubble of 'interaction space,' which detects your hand gestures down to an accuracy of 0.01 millimeters — about 200 times more accurate than 'existing touch-free products and technologies,' such as your smartphone's touchscreen or Microsoft Kinect. Unfortunately Leap Motion (the company behind the Leap) is being very tight-lipped about the technology being used, but it's probably some kind of infrared LIDAR (radar, but using light), or perhaps a high-resolution version of Kinect (which only uses a 640x480 camera). It's available to pre-order for $70 — and developers can register for a free device + SDK."

3 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. I might be wrong... by Lisandro · · Score: 4, Informative

    ... but this has "fake" written all over it.

    If they really managed to create an device that tracks multiple objects, in 3D (even when stacked), and with a resolution of 10 microns they won't just revolutionize computers and gaming. I've used industrial sensing devices that cost 100x as much and aren't even remotely capable of such feats.

    1. Re:I might be wrong... by Hillgiant · · Score: 3, Informative

      ... but this has "fake" written all over it.

      If they really managed to create an device that tracks multiple objects, in 3D (even when stacked), and with a resolution of 10 microns they won't just revolutionize computers and gaming. I've used industrial sensing devices that cost 100x as much and aren't even remotely capable of such feats.

      ^^^ 100% THIS ^^^

      For the moment, I am assuming that the original reporter misunderstood the measurement. 0.01mm is REALLY SMALL. We aren't talking about tracking hands or fingers, we are talking about tracking the hairs on said hands and/or fingers.

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  2. Re:What's wrong with keyboards? by nschubach · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'd be interested in having the (cooled down) hot water lines in my house purged when I walk into the bathroom in the morning

    That can be done by a plumber... or yourself if you are ambitious. Run a return line from your bathroom branch of your plumbing to a lower point on your water heater (there's a drain valve at the bottom... you can 'T' off before that) and natural convection of water will ensure that your pipes are always "charged" with hot water from your water heater. It's called a hot water loop or a recirculating loop.

    Link
    Page 5 (You can usually forgo the pump if your water heater is in the basement)

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    Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.