Designers tried many times to invent some innovative and interesting ways to control our computers. While mouse and keyboard can do this job very well, people demand something new, something interesting that modern technology can offer. We saw many interesting experiments - from eye-controlled mouse pointer to amazing machine that can be controlled with thoughts. However, they all suffer from the same flaws - expensive hardware and limited capabilities. Wii showed that innovative way of controlling your console can be fun and entertaining, so this time PC users can obtain something similar, only without any Wiimote at all. This new method of working with computer is fully based on image recognition and gesture control.Mgestyk Technologies released and presented its vision of how computers should be controlled. It is based on 3D camera and appropriate software driver. Camera captures position of your hands, so you can move cursor with fingers or program actions based on your gestures. For example, "thumbs up" gesture equals to pressing "Enter" button. You can scroll by waving your hand up or down, or make precise mouse movements with tip of your index finger. This idea is interestingly used in games, when you control your car by both hands, which are holding imaginary steering wheel, or in shooter games, by pointing where to shoot. It also can be used in media PCs or public places, where only basic input is needed.
While it looks futuristic, just like in Minority report movie, it has a good potential nowadays. With only 150 dollars (this is the price for 3D camera) you can experience how it is to control what happens on screen with your hands only. Leave the keyboard for text input - it is much more fun to control your PC by waving hands in front of it - especially if it will be interestingly used in future games. Great way to prevent RSI and other usual threats - keeps your arms trained and exercised (some boxing games maybe?). Developers need to work on a response time though - nearly one second response time is a very big delay for gamers.
