And the point of this is … is … umm …

by Dave Haynes | 29th July 2010

Akihabara News is reporting a new Hitachi gesture technology that the Japanese electronics giant thinks has a role in several sectors one day, including digital signage.

Here you are the last bit of our tour at Hitachi exhibition, with the company vision of a “Minority Report” like interface. Perhaps closer to Microsoft Kinect UI, Hitachi system will let you control any kind of information display on a TV or by a Video projector, by simply waving your hands in any directions.

Nothing much to say here since this was just a working prototype, but, Hitachi is working not only on including this technology in digital signage, but also in the medical aera, where doctors can access data, photo or like on the video below to IRM without touching anything, ideal during surgery for example, as well as planning to add such technology in both Desktop PCs as well as TV.

Underwhelmed and wondering if the future – apart from gaming and some street-level advertising stuff – is really about flapping arms instead of just clicking a mouse or touching a screen to make things happen.

2 Responses to “And the point of this is … is … umm …”

  1. Arlene Zeichner

    Jul 29th, 2010 :

    Well if you want to see where Mr. Minority Report is at now with his new gesture tech company, Oblong, check out his TED speech from this year:

    http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/john_underkoffler_drive_3d_data_with_a_gesture.html

    The thought is that it is good for people who have to deal with huge amounts of info at once, like air traffic controllers.

  2. Steve Gladden

    Aug 4th, 2010 :

    Ha Ha Ha…ROTFL!!!

    First, let me say thank you Dave. Why would you want to learn/teach new complicated gestures, when most of the world is already familiar with touch and mouse gestures?

    Secondly, why do hardware manufacturers keep demanding how their product be used? Air Traffic control? C’mon, sounds like it would work, but its not up to us to decide that.

    Jeff Haan is right when he says that 90% of interactive displays are for consuming, and such will be the case for years. Why? Cause that’s where the need is. Question: How do I (a company, B2B, B2C, B2G, retail, corporate or otherwise) get people to engage with my message? Answer: Interactivity.

    As far as interactivity as a work tool? Well creative services (design and architecture), medical imaging, and top secret government training are the only needs.

    Sorry Tom Cruise lovers, Minority Report ain’t coming to Police Department near you anytime soon.

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