End of the TV remote could be nigh as scientists invent technology to change channel using gestures
End of the TV remote could be nigh as scientists invent
technology to change channel using gestures
Gestures with any part of the body could control the
television
By Telegraph Reporters 2 OCTOBER 2017 • 12:01AM
The television remote could become a thing of the past
according to scientists who have developed a new technology that allows the
device to be controlled through gestures instead.
Computer scientists at Lancaster University have come up
with a system that makes it possible interact with screens simply by using body
movements, or waving objects.
Requiring only a simple webcam, the
"Matchpoint" works by displaying moving targets that orbit a small
circular "widget" in the corner of the screen.
Some televisions already recognise hand gestures, but
scientists say this technology provides a lot of flexibility because it is not
trained to look for a specific body part. It works even when hands are full, or
while standing or slouching on the sofa.
The user synchronises hand, head or object movements with
the targets to activate functions such as volume, changing channel or viewing a
menu.
Team leader Christopher Clarke, a PhD student at the
university's School of Computing and Communications, said: "Spontaneous
spatial coupling is a new approach to gesture control that works by matching
movement instead of asking the computer to recognise a specific object.
"Our method allows for a much more user-friendly
experience where you can change channels without having to put down your drink,
or change your position, whether that is relaxing on the sofa or standing in
the kitchen following a recipe.
"Everyday objects in the house can now easily become
remote controls so there are no more frantic searches for remote controls when
your favourite programme is about to start on another channel, and now everyone
in the room has the 'remote'.
"You could even change the channel with your pet
cat."
A paper on the technology will be presented at the UIST
(User Interface Software and Technology) 2017 conference in Quebec City,
Canada, later this month.
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