Handy-Potter employs a depth-sensing camera and advanced software algorithms to interpret hand movements and gestures and turn them into 3D objects. (Source: Purdue University)
Thanks for the comments. I agree. The prototype is just experimental but the future applications have great appeal as a commercial product. A group of Capstone students here at ITT Technical Institute created a haptic -based wrist band for the blind where a servo motor lightly tap the users hand upon approaching objects in their walking path. Although the "mouser" (name of their prototype) was experimental, with additional seed money to refined the design, I see a viable product being emerged. They used an Arduino, a servo motor, a LED, pushbutton switch, Parallax Ping sensor, a batteries (9V and 6V) for their design prototype. It was quite an effective demo/discussion presented by the group.
@Mrdon: Good suggestion combining this with haptics. I definitely see this as more of an experimental, here's where we're going, consider the possibilities technology as opposed to a commercial-ready product.
Hmmm. I watched the video and almost drank the coolaid until I thought about resolution. I don't know how this technology will handle resolution, when I can handle it with a mouse, sometimes.
I love this! It follows a general trend I've seen in design over the last few years. Design Directors and Professors have been lamenting the lack of basic skills amoung many new graduates. Many young designers today can barely draw, let alone sculpt.
This is a perfect evolution for point and click designers to gain (or regain) basics rendering skills. I want it!
Beth this avneat idea. My 3D modeling professor in college repeatedly told the students that modeling was a lot like sculpting. The Handy Potter seems to take this concept to an extreme. This has potential to be a great tool for new products and concepts.
Beth, nice article and video. It does seem a little far fetch but I'm guessing the tool will evolve into something more practical. However this is a good start.
Greg, Your right on target in regards to future inputting methods. I can see this tool/technology being intriguing in the field of Physical Computiing which deals with humans engaging with their environment via sensors. Talk about total immersion while designing a product. If haptics were added, the phrase " being totally into your work" would have true meaning!
If this can be scaled down to consistently detect subtle and minute hand gestures, I can see this turning into a well-received product reality in the future.
(Maybe I need to keep the large gestures to get out of my chair and get some exercise...)
I agree, TJ. Futuristic is the right word. I've said this in previous posts -- solutions like this one seem to be straight out of the 2002 Spielberg movie, "Minority Report." It's a long way from pencil on mylar.
@TJ: A little far fetched to be really useful for practicing engineers at this point, no doubt. But definitely interesting in its possibilities especially as more and more of the gestures and interactive motion interfaces make their way into business types of applications. I'm all for the extra exercise as well!
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