Channel Surf With Your Hands, No Remote!
For some people (possibly including some of our readers), even pressing buttons on a remote is simply too much work. Who wants to hit a whole bunch of buttons? What happens if you lose the remote? Then you'll have to get up and change the channel by hand. And no one wants that.
Thankfully a group of Australian scientists has developed a prototype device that will allow you to control your TV and other home entertainment devices with hand gestures. The device uses a camera to watch for a set of predetermined gestures to turn equipment on or off, change channels, etc.
This new-fangled bit of tech wizardry has software that helps it weed out unintended gestures, so that flailing children or over active pets can't accidentally change the channel on you. The scientists are working on shrinking the technology down so that it can be built into gadgets like televisions and DVD players. They hope to have the controller-less controller in stores within the next three years.
From Gizmo Watch
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Comments
24
Subscribe to commentsJ. LeeJul 18th 2007 8:28PM
Wow, so they're inventing even MORE ways to make americans fat...er
BrendaJul 18th 2007 8:33PM
Can we say LAZY??? It's no wonder so many Americans are on diets;What's next...A device that chews your food for you?
bobJul 18th 2007 8:59PM
when will they come up with something to drink my beer for me (besides my brother)so i can drive home after the game???
EmilyJul 18th 2007 8:58PM
Wow this is so stupid. Imagine walking in to a room with your friends and somebody makes one of these gestures on accident. The TV turns on and everyone freaks. Not to mention that this is absolutely one of the laziest inventions I have ever seen, if not the most. It's rediculous. If you have ever seen the movie Idiocracy (which, if you haven't, you should) that is what this invention is leading towards. And next, a recliner with a built in toilet so you never have to move again.
anthonyJul 18th 2007 9:30PM
wat about the pill that makes u never hav to go the bathroom ever again or never hav to shave?
or wat about disabilities and such?
its amazing what this world is coming to and im still really young
xavierJul 18th 2007 9:45PM
well, i can see how someone disabled or autistic er dislexic orsomething could use a product like this but on the other hand,it is good technology for the wrong purpose.in a car it would be nice for a radio or something so youre not distracted but even so it would need LOTS of fine tuning.
sharonanderson24Jul 19th 2007 11:07PM
im not lazy or anything but to be honest...this invention sounds like more work than just placing your hand on a remote and pressing a button. just me?
KristenJul 18th 2007 9:56PM
I think its an okay invention. if you loose the remote and your tv i s satellite how do you change the channel?? this would help alot
REESE P.Jul 18th 2007 10:17PM
Maybe just maybe, they will come up with a device that will spell for some of these idots that post comments and forget how the english language is spelled!
ClaudiaJul 19th 2007 5:01AM
Sounds good to me where can I buy one? We waste a lot of time looking for that remote. My husband can't find it if it is under his nose.
Tiger3548708Jul 18th 2007 10:40PM
this is GREAT!!! no remote just hand waves. think about turn the T.V. off on a fat family member and tell go lose some more pound's..it whould keep alot of poeple off from siting and watching the tv. cool way too put some fatie on a diet!
HJul 18th 2007 10:40PM
I think it's funny that alot of these replies are saying it's another way to make AMERICANS fat. You did read the part where the scientists are from Australia, right?
I agree that such technology is a waste, but... America's not the only country with laziness issues, people!
aucuallyJul 18th 2007 10:45PM
aucually it is not as lasy as remote considering with a remote you only have to press a single button and with this you need to make hand and arm gestures that auchully require small amounts of energy. but pressing a button on a remote dosn't take bareley energy at all
Pro: funner
cons: bad for people with arthritus, you may aciedentaly turn on the tv
JossyJul 18th 2007 10:59PM
we don't need "english teachers", someone telling us how to write and how not to write. as long as the first letter and the last letter in any word that's over two letter's long is written down correctly, most know what the word is. do yru sre hrw tles wvcos? ib's a poiwsn fuot. If you can't read that, well sorry, but you're of low IQ quality. this, too, is a fact. plus, you were off topic. Those who scoff at this tv invention remind me of the people that say man will never fly. yawn
mike nJul 18th 2007 11:02PM
i just love this touchless gadgets. can't get the germs from it. this is why the japanese bow instead of shake hands when greeting.
JossyJul 18th 2007 11:19PM
hey, think smart, not hard. you won't have to buy expensive batteries anymore if your hand's can do the walking for you, so to speak? how many duracell or energizer batteries do you use in, say, ten years? what's the combined cost? less bad stuff put into landfills too. think smart, huh? you folks sound like the ones that laughed at remote controls and said everyone would get lazy and fatter. then, how about that first automobile that was invented in germany in 1886? first car was a Benz, i'm on my second Mercedes-Benz right now, and i'm thrilled that it was created. no, i'm not fat nor lazy either. now what do you have to say?????
JEANNEJul 19th 2007 12:36AM
''THINK BACK TO THE 60'S. 70'S??'
'THE REMOTE DOES IT FOR ME, WHEN I CAN GET IT OUTTA MY HUBBY'S HAND !
ShawnJul 19th 2007 11:48AM
This is being created by AUSTRALIANS, not Americans, you jealous a-holes who are calling Americans lazy. Next time you have a natural disaster, maybe we should be too lazy to come and help you.
LizC864Jul 19th 2007 1:09AM
I think it's a good idea. Yes, at 1st it sounds incredibly lazy, but ... no batteries, no losing or breaking the remote, no dirty remote for a baby to put in it's mouth, or a puppy to chew up. You'll be able to see your coffee table again (I have 6 remotes on mine, all take 2 batteries each). The combined signals make it almost impossible for someone to accidentally turn on & if they get cute, maybe when you flip off your TV it'll change the channel for you or fast forward past those irritating tampon commercials.
DesertannedJul 19th 2007 2:39AM
Wow, a device that isn't a device. I noticed most of the people who made comments about this invention had something snide to say about fat and lazy people (usually Americans), and I also noticed most of the people who commented were too lazy to learn how to SPELL anything properly.
Talk about some lazy ignorant bastards...