There’s not a lot of technical detail about exactly how this works, but a company called Elliptic Labs is developing a very science-fictiony touchless computer interface (Via Gizmodo):

Elliptic Labs is paving the way for use of computers and screens without touching, simply with the finger or hand in the air. Manipulate images, play computer games, control robotics or use touch screens without touching or without holding a hardware control unit.

Their technology is based on the work of Dr. Tobias Dahl from the University of Oslo, who is also the company’s founder. According to the website, their technology can recognize “with high precision” the position and properties of a finger or hand or other object up to 1.5 meters away from the sensors, which can be placed on or next to a monitor: no need for a clunky “data glove” or anything on the hand at all. The company says the technology is so compact it could even be fitted on to a mobile phone. You can view video demonstrations of it here.

Since I’m a Windows user I’ve occasionally made rather violent hand gestures at my computer, but it’s never taken the slightest notice. Perhaps that’s about to change.

(Image: Elliptic Labs)

[tags]technology, computers[/tags]