Microsoft Develops a Keyboard with Kinect-Like Gesture Controls

Microsoft Research, the in-house research laboratory founded in 1991, has introduced its newest creation: a mechanical keyboard with imbedded IR sensors that allows for "rich and expressive motion gestures performed both on and directly above the device."

"A low-resolution matrix of infrared proximity sensors is interspersed with the keys of a regular mechanical keyboard," Microsoft says of the device on its website. "This results in coarse but high frame-rate motion data. We extend a machine learning algorithm, traditionally used for static classification only, to robustly support dynamic, temporal gestures."

What does that all mean?

"Our goal is to enable fast, easy, and low-effort gestures allowing users to smoothly transition between text-entry and motion-based so that hands always remain in the home position on the keyboard," stated Microsoft Research in a video showing off their new product.

Some of the uses shown include hover gestures to switch between open windows on the desktop, or navigating documents with "coarse swipes and pinch-to-zoom."

The video further shows a person controlling a video game using a "virtual steering wheel."

Microsoft Research currently employs over 1,100 scientists and engineers and "virtually every product Microsoft ships today has been influenced by the work of Microsoft Research," including, not surprisingly, Kinect.

Source: IGN

Comments

App developers receive 'Make in India' message

"Make apps in India," Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal has urged developers, lending weight to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' campaign. "It will generate so much value that nothing could match it if we get it right," he said at the first edition of Global Mobile Internet Conference (GMIC) Bangalore. Smartphone growth in India is expected to see a quantum jump, and apps developed for local use could potentially have a deep impact. InMobi co-founder Naveen Tewari underscored the point, saying the country should look at setting up mobile app villages focused on creating a new app economy here. Bansal noted that mobile devices had become affordable and cost of internet had come down. "A Rs 6,000 phone today is better than the iPhone 3. In fact, my driver completed three years and I asked him what gift he wanted. He said he wanted a smartphone," he said. A Flipkart survey estimates that 1 billion smartphones would be sold in India i...

11 Changers in Call of Duty Advanced Warfare

source: IGN The trailer for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare has dropped and it made one thing very apparent - Sledgehammer Games’ new first-person shooter is going to be a game changer. How so? Well, we collected 11 things from the trailer that have us more excited about Call of Duty than ever before. We still have a lot of questions like “will these be in multiplayer?” and “how will this affect balance?” but there’s no doubt about one thing: we cannot wait to find out. That said, here are 11 things to get excited about in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. 1 The Exo Suit The first thing you see in the trailer is an exo suit and it’s likely going to be a huge part of gameplay, both in terms of combat and mobility. Its basic function gives the player enhanced strength and the ability to jump extreme distances. Will you be able to do melee attacks from afar? Will we be able to re-create the freeway scene from The Matrix? We’re excited to discover the answer. 2 Wall Climbi...

How To Control House With Your Phones

With the current global technological growth, people tend to move into what is termed as “call-smart-wall” where everything can be manipulated from the palm of the hand. The smart gadgets can be used to automate a home of an individual to the extent that all the smart appliances are controlled. This can be done from one’s palm using fingers from a safe distance without necessarily being present in the house. All the appliances are structured to operate from a centralized control unit situated upon actuators. The control system uses the principle of 12v actuators to enable easy application of a command from a centralized point, in this case a smart phone. A good example is the automated gate and security light. A person does not need to come out of the car or hoot for the gate to be opened, but can easily open the gate or switch on the security light by use of a phone. Similarly, the door can be automated in the sense that one does not ...

Blazing Info

Search This Blog