Universal Electronics licenses motion control, hopes you don't put your eye out

by Steven Kim, posted Mar 17th 2008 at 8:31PM

Ask us what we think about voice control of A/V gear, and you're likely to get a laugh. Gesture-based control, however, is a different kettle of fish. Despite the knocks we give it, simply waving your hands through the air does make you feel more powerful than pressing a designated button. Universal Electronics (UEI) is on the same page, and has licensed motion-control technology from Hillcrest Labs to deliver more of that omnipotent feeling in its remote controls. Hillcrest's Freespace tech has already found its way into the Logitech MX Air, but we'll have to wait and see what kind of usage UEI will incorporate into its products. Creating a successful "10-foot" experience isn't going to be solved by hardware manufacturers alone, though -- optimizing the graphical side of the design is necessary as well.

Filed under: Industry, Remotes

Tags: Freespace, gesture, Hillcrest Labs, HillcrestLabs, Logitech, motion, MX Air, MxAir, UEI, Universal Electronics, UniversalElectronics

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

ProfWho @ Mar 18th 2008 11:11AM

Isn't watching TV and movies a passive experience? I want to sit my ass down and watch TV and a movie. I don't want to hit my wife in the face when she sits next to me while fast forwarding through a commercial or scene.

Neutral

Pat @ Mar 18th 2008 5:43PM

Agreed it's a passive experience.. but I would argue that with the right interface onscreen, it's simply an easier way to get the content you want up on the screen when you want it.

Anyone who wants to do MORE with the TV (like navigating online video --see Microsoft's announcement of integration of streaming video into MediaRoom) will need something more/better than a standard remote. That's where the motion sensing stuff can really kick in.

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