The new editions of mobile devices are seemingly less exciting: a better camera, a sharper screen, the same poor battery life. Where can mobile devices go next in terms of useful innovations? Three-dimensional projections have been put forward by some developers. A different innovation tranche is with controlling a mobile device via hand gestures.
Researchers from Linnaeus University believe that the ability to interact with mobile phones and other smart devices by using gestures via hands and fingers will help to make the digital world seem more like the ‘real one’. They think this could become the next big thing in mobile devices and they’ve launched a new project to help foster the next-generation technology.
Central to such a development is having the mobile device recognize and respond across three-dimensions: width, height, depth. This will take a big technological leap given that the smartphone world works by interactions that are based on two dimensions. To move to three dimensional interactions means it could be possible to control a mobile device by simply moving a finger in front of the device’s screen.
The researchers are developing something called ‘Real-Time 3D Gesture Analysis for Natural Interaction with Smart Devices’, which, dispute being a bit of a mouthful could become a significant advance in interface technology.
According to one of the technologists involved with project, Shahrouz Yousefi, the aim is for the mobile user to one day experience the grabbing and twisting an object in the digital world at the same level as if it was the real world. This should advance virtual and augmented reality, not just for those who enjoy such games, but also for medical settings and e-learning.
This is not a simple task since the ability for a machine to analyse the real-time movements of a person’s hands requires high capacity and high intelligence. Moreover, vast amounts of data processing will be needed, which requires ‘big data’ solutions.
There’s a way to go before a prototype emerges. The university work is being funded by various technology companies like Screen Interaction, MindArk PE and Globalmouth. Keep an eye on the developments, this could become the next big thing with smart devices.
