Tag Archives: gesture

Android Wear’s latest preview opens gestures to other apps

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Are you the sort to treat your wrist as a test bed for Google software? If so, today's a grand day. Google has released its second developer preview of Android Wear 2.0, and it packs more than just some extra spit and polish. It now supports wrist...

Deal: Save 45% on the Bastron B9 Glass Smart Keyboard

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If you’re thinking about buying a new keyboard, why not consider something a little different? The Bastron B9 Smart Keyboard is a sleek, futuristic USB keyboard made from glass.

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Its keys appear to float inside a layer of glass, with a blue glowing backlight. You’ll never get Cheetos dust stuck between these keys either, since they’re nice and smooth.

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In addition to its touch-sensitive key surface, it also doubles as a pointing device, and supports 14 different gesture controls.

The Bastron Glass Smart Keyboard lists at $239(USD), but we’ve got it on sale in the Technabob Shop today for just $129.99.

Knocki Gesture Remote Control: Clapper 2.0

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Last year, we checked out a light switch that let you toggle lights just by waving your hand. Knocki lets you do that and more but by knocking or tapping on a surface.

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Unlike the Clapper, Knocki doesn’t use microphones to detect knocks. Instead, it senses the vibration on the surface that it’s mounted on. That reduces false positives as well as multiple activations in case you have multiple Knocki units near each other.

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So what can you do with Knocki? For starters, it lets you trigger and talk with your smartphone. For instance, it can text you if someone’s knocking at the door or left mail at your mailbox. Or you can call someone with just a knock.

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But you’ll get the most out of Knocki by integrating it with smart appliances and automation systems such as IFTTT, Nest and even Apple’s new home automation platform Home Kit. Then you’ll be able to control and monitor your home with just a few knocks.

Pre-order a Knocki for $59 (USD). You can program different functions into a single unit, so you don’t have to go all in with a house full of Knockis like the family in the video.

[via OhGizmo!]

16Lab’s Smart Ring Is Your Electronic Key, Gesture Device, Wallet, and More

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“Wearable tech” is the latest big trend and the buzziest buzzword of the moment. Techies are figuring out what works, old people are either hating all of it or trying to buy stock in some of it, and horologists are trying to figure out where they stand on the subject of smartwatches. Of course, there’s more to it than just watches: I’ve seen quadcopter photography rigs that can be worn as a bracelet, compression bodysuits that keep track of your every move and muscle contraction during workouts, and even fitness trackers for dogs. 16Lab has made the first “smart” ring I’ve run across, and it looks genuinely useful.

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The 16Lab ring has a lot of features packed into it’s chunky titanium casing. It can interface with a variety of devices as a gesture-based mouse, work as a keyboard for Google Glass users, serve as an electronic wallet, act as a no-touch key, and serve as the locus of power for an evil necromancer issue alerts from other devices. The battery is supposedly good for 20 hours per charge, and about three years of nightly recharging.

There’s no word at this point if or when the 16Lab ring will hit the market, or how much it will cost, though the company plans on selling a developer kit in the coming months.

[via 16Lab]

Microsoft Gesture-Sensing Keyboard Concept: Type & Swipe

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Even with the rise of touch input, the mouse and keyboard remains the best and most flexible computing setup. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be improved upon. Microsoft Research recently developed a mouse and keyboard hybrid that allows users to type and make multitouch input on the same device.

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Stuart Taylor, Cem Keskin, Otmar Hilliges, Shahram Izadi, and John Helmes integrated added an array of low-resolution infrared sensors to a mechanical keyboard. Paired with a machine learning algorithm and a database of gestures, they were able to use the modified device as a multitouch surface while still preserving its form and function as a keyboard.

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Watch the first 30 seconds of the video below closely, and you’ll see that the device performs reasonably well. You’ll also see that they chose to hack an Apple keyboard.

I wonder if Leap Motion could use their technology to make a similar keyboard. Their sensor seems to be more accurate than the sensors used in this concept.

[via Microsoft Research via Ubergizmo]

Fin Turns Your Palm Into Gesture Interface

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Fin

 

What’s cool about Fin is that it isn’t just a gesture controller. The ring itself transforms your palm into a gesture interface, so you’ve essentially got a keypad or touchpad, right on your hand. This is made possible by the fact that the tiny device is programmed to recognize each segment of your fingers.

Fin connects to your smartphone, smart TV, car, or home automation system via Bluetooth. It will be able to convert simple hand motions into commands and control values with any connected device.

The current version of Fin can carry out up to five different commands per device, but its creators might be gunning for more in the final version. Additionally, the ring-like device will come with a powerful built-in battery that can last for more than a month.

Fin is currently up for funding on Indiegogo, where a minimum pledge of $80 will get you one of your very own.

VIA [ Dvice ]

Oculus Rift-based virtual reality game could help restore 3D vision (video)

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Diplopia VR game

Many will tell you that video games are bad for your eyes, but James Blaha doesn't buy that theory. He's developing a crowdfunded virtual reality title, Diplopia, that could help restore 3D vision. The Breakout variant trains those with crossed eye problems to coordinate their eyes by manipulating contrast; players score well when their brain merges two images into a complete scene. Regular gameplay could noticeably improve eyesight for adults that previously had little hope of recovering their depth perception, Blaha says. The potential solution is relatively cheap, too -- gamers use an Oculus Rift as their display, and they can add a Leap Motion controller for a hands-free experience. If you're eager to help out, you can pledge $20 to get Diplopia, and $400 will bundle the app with an Oculus Rift headset. Check out a video demo of the therapeutic game after the break.

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Via: Hack A Day

Source: Indiegogo