Canesta scores its 37th U.S. patent for gesture-control technology

Canesta scores its 37th U.S. patent for gesture-control technology

Maybe I’m paranoid, but I can smell a legal battle coming in gesture control for TVs, computers, game consoles and other gadgets.

Maybe it’s because Canesta is soon to announce its 37th patent. Normally, that wouldn’t be a big deal, but innovations in user-interfaces are hot right now. Also, user interfaces for smartphones have already sparked legal disputes between Apple and Palm. Basically, Palm is using multi-touch screens — which Apple says it patented — for… Continue Reading

3DV fleshes out gesture-based gaming plans, hires North American chief

3DV fleshes out gesture-based gaming plans, hires North American chief

Inspired by the Nintendo Wii’s clever wand-like game controller, gesture-recognition start-ups are coming out of the woodwork. Israel’s 3DV Systems is one of the contenders and it is showing more of its cards.

The Yokne’am, Israel company said it plans to launch a low-cost gesture-recognition camera for game purposes in 2009. And it has hired a well-known video game veteran as its general manager for the North American market. Charles Bellfield, the new hire, has worked… Continue Reading

Throw away the Wii — 3D sensing technology due within a year, says SoftKinetic

Throw away the Wii — 3D sensing technology due within a year, says SoftKinetic

While we’ve written several times recently about the progress of next-generation, camera-based game control technologies, including the hefty funding received by Prime Sense and an earlier update on several competing companies, there’s one detail we’ve edged around: When you’ll get to use them for yourself.

That’s because most of the companies developing gesture recognition technology aren’t sure, themselves. The firms developing the 3D cameras that make motion-sensing gaming possible have to work through intermediaries to… Continue Reading

Prime Sense claims to have the best 3D game controller

Prime Sense claims to have the best 3D game controller

A few months ago, VentureBeat editor Matt Marshall highlighted the various players in the gesture recognition technology space, speculating that “one day, very soon, you’ll be able to control an avatar or character on a screen with a mere gesture of your hands or body.”

That day is here, says Prime Sense CEO Inon Beracha. The Tel Aviv, Israel-based company believes it will be the “Intel inside” for the 3D peripheral world, and with a new… Continue Reading