Power in the Palm of Your Hands
From: Newcastle University - 10/08/2012

Researchers at Newcastle University and Microsoft Research Cambridge (MSR)
have developed Digits, a wristwatch-sized sensor that tracks users' hands to
enable them to remotely control devices. "The Digits sensor doesn’t rely on
any external infrastructure so it is completely mobile," says Newcastle's
David Kim. The current prototype includes an infrared (IR) camera, IR
laser-line generator, IR diffuse illuminator, and an inertial-measurement
unit track. "We wanted users to be able to interact spontaneously with their
electronic devices using simple gestures without even having to reach for
them," Kim says. "Can you imagine how much easier it would be if you could
answer your mobile phone while it’s still in your pocket or buried at the
bottom of your bag?" The researchers say their biggest challenge was
extrapolating natural-looking hand motions from a sparse sampling of the key
points sensed by the camera. "We had to understand our own body parts first
before we could formulate their workings mathematically," says Newcastle's
Shahram Izadi. The Digits prototype, which features electronics that are
self-contained on the user's wrist, optically image all of the user's hand,
enabling freehand interactions in a mobile setting. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/power-in-the-palm-of-your-hands

Links:
Power in the palm of your hands (video 2:35)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G98zYMMEDno

Digits
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/uist2012-100812.aspx

Intuitive UIs Featured During UIST 2012
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/uist2012-100812.aspx

David Kim
http://di.ncl.ac.uk/blog/author/xdk/