touchless interface. waving at the computer does the trick

Technologies opening for touchless user interfaces introduce many new ways for people to use computers, it be in computer gaming, surgeons operating in the sterile zone or use of mobile phones. However, to take today's 2D touch-oriented user interface solutions, such as touch screens, and make them touchless is not necessarily a feasible solution - "like putting a 3D foot in a 2D shoe".



Elliptic Labs has developed technology and new interaction solutions for use of computers without touching or holding a hardware control unit

Pretty cool and I can forsee some nice applications for this. Kind of touch without fingers on the screen

What will it be (multi)touch or 3D....or a combination?

OK, It''s a plain copy/paste but a very nice one from digitimes.com. Just came across:



Acer to launch 3D notebook at the end of October, new netbook for 3Q10
Yen-Shyang Hwang, Taipei; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES [Monday 8 June 2009]

Acer plans to launch a 15.6-inch 3D notebook, which the company jointly developed with Wistron, at the end of October 2009, according to Campbell Kan, vice president of Acer's mobile computing business unit.

The notebook features built-in software which can convert regular 2D movies to 3D, and will also directly support 3D movies.

Currently, users still need to wear stereoscopic glasses for the 3D to be effective, however, Acer is developing a model without the need for glasses, although it still has quiet a few technological obstacles to overcome, Kan noted.

The notebook will come equipped with Windows 7 and therefore Acer will not make an official announcement until Microsoft launches the OS, Kan added.

In addition to Windows and Android models, Acer is also working on its third-generation netbook, which will feature a similar concept as MIDs or smartbooks with strong network connectivity and convenience, and it targeting a launch in the second of third quarter of 2010, Kan noted.

Acer 3D notebook
Photo: Yen-Shyang Hwang, Digitimes, June 2009

3D computer interface (without wearing a silly outfit)

Kuddos for Alex pointing me to this but this is a pretty cool appliance for 3D computer interaction as shown in the video.

Utilizing the theory of electrostatics, they have designed a low-cost human-computer interface device that has the ability to track the position of a user's hand in three dimensions. Physical contact is not required and the user does not need to hold a controller or attach markers to their body. To control the device, the user simply waves their hand above it in the air.