GestureTek's Wii-like control could be next killer enterprise tech

Mike Barton, InfoWorld: Future Tech
May 21, 2007 03:26 PM

Think the upcoming Apple iPhone's touchscreen interface is "revolutionary," as Steve Jobs suggests? Think different -- or at least beyond the touchscreen. GestureTek's Nintendo Wii-like motion-control input tech (see video demo) will advance the cell phone beyond telecom. The technology uses the camera's input, gauging movement by comparing images in the stream, and it doesn't have to be run on high-end phone, says the company's cofounder and president, Vincent John Vincent. But with smarter phones and advanced networks, it's not hard to envision more advanced applications for business with its possible multi-user interaction and collaboration. The company signed a major deal with Japan's NTT DoCoMo to embed its tech on advanced phones last month, and it has a deal with Verizon in the U.S. for downloading its tech for use with two games. It works with 25 Verizon phones. The company has been developing such technology, mainly using video surveillance cameras, for 20 years. But bringing the technology to mobile is its next frontier with games the obvious first round. "This is taking our [technology] to the cell market."

Games are the obvious "first splash" for the Wii-like tech for mobile, but as mobile applications like maps develop, the possibilities for turning mobiles into control devices seem endless to me. John Vincent describes scrolling on maps, and zooming and panning, as obvious applications. And the iPhone with GestureTek technology could be very cool, with a possible "3D finger" capability for touchscreens. Multi-user applications, such as playing a multiplayer game or collaboration on a project in 3D, could be made possible with 3G streaming videophones, such as those that are popular in Asia with carriers like Hutchison's Three and NTT DoCoMo, John Vincent says. Where it goes next is open for market forces, and I could see it easily plugging in to enterprise applications or workforces in health care, just for one instance. John Vincent would not comment on if any deals were in the works on business applications.

About GestureTek Mobile
GestureTek Mobile is a world leader in gesture-based user interface for mobile devices and the inventor of the patented, award-winning EyeMobile Engine.  EyeMobile Engine is the world’s first software-only solution that uses the existing camera on a cell phone or mobile Internet device to provide people with the ability to interact with their device using gestures. By shaking, rocking or rolling the phone (or making hand motions in front of the phone) users can answer a call, play mobile games, scroll menus, navigate maps, view images and documents, browse the web, enter text messages and do anything else they would normally do on their mobile device, without pressing buttons.  Licensees of GestureTek’s patents or technologies include Sony for the EyeToy, Microsoft for the XBOX 360 and Hasbro for the ION Educational Gaming System.  GestureTek Mobile’s award wins include the 2008 Mobile Innovation Global Award, the LAPTOP Magazine ‘Best of CTIA’ Award and the NATPE++ Award for the Hottest Mobile Application.  Games powered by the EyeMobile Engine have been recognized by the BREW Game Developer Awards, the International Mobile Gaming Awards and the IGN Editors Choice Awards.  GestureTek Mobile developed the first gesture-recognition software to be embedded in NTT DoCoMo phones in Japan and provided the software for the first gesture-controlled mapping application on a cellphone.  EyeMobile supports many handsets on the JAVA, BREW, SYMBIAN, WINDOWS MOBILE and DOJA platforms. Applications are available for over the air download on the Verizon network.  Full developer tools are available on the Qualcomm website.   A catalogue of turnkey games and applications for multiple platforms are available from the GestureTek mobile site. GestureTek Mobile is a business unit of GestureTek Inc., pioneer, patent-holder and world-leader in computer vision control for presentation and entertainment systems.