However, a new device launches this week, taking us one step closer to the future seen in films such as Minority Report and Iron Man. I’m talking, of course, about The Leap Motion Controller.
Leap Motion hits Best Buy stores nationwide this weekend. It’s a small USB device that plugs into a computer, allowing users to interact with their PC or Mac through hand movements and gestures.
The controller sits in front of the computer and has two camera sensors and three infrared LEDs that read and react to hand gestures.
Now this little device won’t let you move around a series of 3D objects in your garage like Tony Stark, but it will allow you to surf the Internet with a wave of your hand. Web browsing aside, the most exciting thing with the Leap Motion is its app store, known as Airspace, which features nearly 80 apps. About 30% are free and the rest range in price from 99 cents to $99. Although the apps may be rather limited right now, it does have a wide range of content, including popular games, such as Cut The Rope, virtual music lessons, and even educational content that allows users to get up close and personal with subatomic molecules.
Could It Replace The Mouse?
Possibly, but I’m guessing even the biggest futurists might agree that it won’t be anytime soon.
With new technology such as this, even the simplest acts and gestures can seem tedious or challenging, which can frustrate even the most patient user. The learning curve isn’t as steep as say learning a new operating system, but it isn’t as easy as switching video game consoles.
Of course, you may discover aches in muscles you didn’t know you had. Holding your hand out in front of your body for extended periods isn’t the most ergonomic position.
But for the low price of $80, it might be something too hard to pass up, especially if you have that hard-to-shop-for techie in your family this holiday season.
Where Next?
I see this as similar to when Apple first introduced the iPod. I’m still more excited about where Leap Motion may be going than where it currently is.
As Chris Gabriel wrote here last week:
You must constantly re-evaluate as things evolve. ... Technology evolution takes an early concept, and turns it into something we marvel at. ... Watch how things change—otherwise you might miss a marvelous opportunity.
Of course, he was talking about FlexPod, but the principle’s the same. We can only speculate, but wouldn’t it be fascinating if this tiny controller could be shrunken down even more and come built into your next laptop, tablet, or smartphone, much like how the Kinect is being incorporated within the upcoming Xbox One?
And what about the next generation of apps? More than 12,000 people have already accessed the Leap Motion developer’s kit—and that’s even before its official release. Just imagine medical students using gestures to operate on medical simulations, or an aspiring musician taking music lessons using just their computer.
The potential is there, but we’re not there yet. The Leap Motion is clearly a step in the right direction, but the biggest question is not what this product can do, but what it can do next?
What's your take? Weigh in with a comment below...
By Matt Butter (@MatthewButter)
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