Gesture controls the next big thing in TV, says guy selling gesture control tech

Invoking examples like the iPhone, Wii and Minority Report, Canesta CEO Jim Spare is highly optimistic about the future of 3D gesture control, especially when it comes to new TVs. The company's chips powered Hitachi's gesture controlled CES demo, and plans more demos at the TV of the Future conference this week. The hand flailing demos we've seen haven't always impressed, but so far there's certainly one person who believes in the prospects of the company's low-cost 3D sensing chips. We admit, no matter how silly it looks, the idea of no longer having a remote to lose is at least a bit intriguing.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 11th 2009 12:18PM]

So does giving it the bird turn it on or off?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 11th 2009 1:37PM]

...might as well poke your eyes out before hand.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 11th 2009 2:18PM]

I don't think many people want to use gesture controls to change the channel. I always thought it was stupid to slide your finger across the screen of an iPhone when it would be easier to press a single button.

Gesture controls are nice when it actually makes things easier or more fun, but not more difficult. Many people think it's fun to move the Wiimote like a baseball bat, but do they really think it's fun to wave their arms around to change the display resolution on their cable box? I doubt it.

[edjosh23 Posted Mar 11th 2009 2:39PM]

I think that gesture control is the way of the future. Everything is becoming "touchable", but who wants to walk to the TV and slide your dirty fingers across it. Not having to use a remote or walk to the TV is a great idea. How they will impliment it without making the TV perform some function while you are telling a story to your friends will be a challenge. I'm hoping that my next tv will incoorperate gesture control, glassesless 3D, and internet connectivity.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 12th 2009 3:18PM]

Gesture control? Won't that be a problem when it comes to porno?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 11th 2009 8:00PM]

Check out our case study of how we designed the gesture set. Takes some of your concerns into account:

http://www.kickerstudio.com/blog/2009/03/case-study-gestural-entertainment-center-for-canesta/

[Garst Posted Mar 11th 2009 9:35PM]

I wouldn't want to move enough to get through OTA channels, how many people do you think are going to want to flail about to get through all the cable and satellite garbage? At times, just reaching for the remote is too much work. This will never catch on. Wake me up when you can change channel just by thinking about it.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 13th 2009 2:47AM]

Just as keyboard shortcuts can be faster than clicking through menus with a mouse, buttons can be faster and more accurate than gestures.