For a few years now, filmmakers have been trying to alter the moviegoer experience by providing them with 3D enhancements. The ability to convert a regular movie into 3D creates a whole new action-filled, engaging movie experience for the users.
Following the lead of the film industry, Leap Motion created a small device that adds 3D motion control to laptops and desktops. Despite the advances the world has seen in technology, the idea of using our hands to operate computer functions in a 3D operational field still seems like unfeasible creation and something along the lines of a Star Trek movie. For those nonbelievers out there, check out this video below.
Leap Motion, a motion-control software company, created the 3D motion controller with the intention of revolutionizing the way that users interact with their computers in a more natural manner. Take for instance, graphic designing, which proves to be much difficult when using programs on the computer as opposed to a user drawing naturally with their hand. Or even, as Leap Motions mentioned, the difficulty with using 3D modeling like molding clay, which takes 10 seconds in real life but when done on a computer with a keyboard and mouse, 30 minutes of time was spent.
The Leap Motion device, which is only a few inches long, is placed beneath the screen of your Mac or PC, where it controls the senses of users’ hand and finger motion so they can interact directly with their computer in a 3D space. The controller uses CPU, sensors and LEDs to track individual finger up to 1/100th of a millimeter.
Although it has not been released yet, last year Leap Motion announced that its controllers are 200 times more accurate than any other motion controller on the market. This type of technology is being experimented by all types of companies around the world, like Eyesight Technologies’ virtual mouse and Mycestro, the 3D wearable mouse.
As these companies are in their early stages of development it is difficult to predict how precise and successful these products will be, but that is not necessarily the importance of these creations. What is more significant is how quickly the industry is advancing and dramatically changing the way that users interact with of electronics and computers on such technological levels that users still, to this day, are still amazed by.
Leap Motion will begin shipping to those who preordered it on May 13.
Edited by Rachel Ramsey
