Beyond touch screen: Hitachi's Gesture Remote Control

If you happened to see the demo on the news the other night, chances are you were -at least slightly- gobsmacked! Hitachi's Gesture Remote Control certainly looks like a fun piece of technology.


photo Matbe.com

Part of it reminds you of the Wii, as it involves a lot of gesturing about in front of a TV set. However in this case, there is no such thing as a remote control. The TV responds directly to the hand motions. For example, to switch channels, all you have to do is turn your palm facing the screen and slide it to the left or to the right.

This sophisticated technology is based on a 3D motion sensor that detects and processes the various gestures in real time. The TV will then react accordingly. Does this mean that one would have to start watching football sitting still, for fear of turning the set off at the most crucial moment, or switching the volume down while grabbing a glass from the coffee table?

Probably not, and something not to worry about just yet. The model presented at CES in Las Vegas was still a prototype, but one that certainly managed to create a buzz around the Hitachi stand.