New 3D technology transforms the home computer

CBS
21 May 201203:01

TLDRIn this CBS News Tech Talk, Chena Neck interviews David Holtz, CTO and co-founder of Leap Motion, about their cutting-edge 3D motion sensing technology. The Leap device offers precise motion tracking and can be used for various applications, from architecture to gaming. Unlike Microsoft's Kinect, the Leap is significantly more accurate and plugs into a home computer. It allows users to interact with screens using minimal finger movement, providing a tablet-like experience in mid-air. Priced at $70, it's set to revolutionize the way people interact with their home computers.

Takeaways

  • 💻 The new 3D motion sensing technology, developed by Leap Motion, is extremely accurate and powerful.
  • 🖐️ The Leap Motion device allows users to control their computers with hand gestures, offering a more connected experience.
  • 🏠 This technology has real-world applications for architects and engineers working on 3D models like houses and airplanes.
  • 📱 The Leap Motion device aims to provide a similar experience to using tablets and smartphones, but with motion gestures.
  • 🎮 It can also be used for gaming, offering fast and precise controls for a more immersive experience.
  • 📊 Unlike Microsoft Kinect, which is primarily used for Xbox, the Leap Motion device is more accurate and plugs into a computer.
  • 🛠️ The device will be available for $70, with a release date set for winter.
  • 📺 Users can browse websites like CBS News with simple hand gestures, without needing to touch the computer.
  • 🖱️ The device can map small hand movements to large areas on the screen, allowing precise control without large gestures.
  • 👐 Multiple users can interact with the device simultaneously, enabling collaborative tasks like rotating 3D models.

Q & A

  • What is the name of the device discussed in the transcript?

    -The device is called the Leap from Leap Motion.

  • Who is the interviewee in the transcript?

    -The interviewee is David Holtz, the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Leap Motion.

  • What is the main feature of the Leap Motion device?

    -The main feature of the Leap Motion device is its high accuracy and powerful motion sensing capability.

  • How does the Leap Motion device compare to Microsoft Kinect?

    -The Leap Motion device is several hundred times more accurate than Microsoft Kinect and plugs into a computer.

  • When is the Leap Motion device expected to be available?

    -The Leap Motion device is expected to be available this winter.

  • What is the expected price of the Leap Motion device?

    -The expected price of the Leap Motion device is $70.

  • Can you give an example of how the Leap Motion device can be used at home?

    -One example is using the device to browse a website like cbsnews.com by making gestures in the air, similar to using a touchscreen device.

  • How can the Leap Motion device enhance gaming experiences?

    -The Leap Motion device can enhance gaming experiences by using its high accuracy to map small movements to larger screen areas, making interactions more precise.

  • What is the advantage of using the Leap Motion device for small motions?

    -The advantage is that very small motions can be picked up easily and accurately, reducing the effort needed to control the computer or game.

  • What additional capability does the Leap Motion device have regarding finger tracking?

    -The Leap Motion device can track multiple fingers simultaneously, allowing for more complex interactions.

Outlines

00:00

👋 Introduction to the Leap Motion Technology

The video opens with a presenter, Chena Neck from CBS News Tech Talk, introducing the Leap Motion technology and the interview with David Holtz, the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Leap Motion. Holtz is there to demonstrate the company’s 3D motion-sensing device. The conversation begins with a brief description of the device, explaining that it's the most accurate and powerful motion-sensing tool on the market.

🏡 Real-World Applications of Leap Motion

Holtz explains how the Leap Motion device can be used in various fields, from architecture to engineering, especially when working with 3D objects. He emphasizes that the device allows for a natural and intuitive way to interact with 3D models, comparing it to the ease of use seen with smartphones and tablets. The device is designed to enhance productivity in fields that require precision with 3D inputs.

🎮 Comparing Leap Motion to Microsoft Kinect

The discussion shifts to a comparison between the Leap Motion and Microsoft's Kinect, a motion-sensing device for the Xbox 360. Holtz points out that while both devices focus on motion sensing, Leap Motion is more accurate and connects directly to the computer. Unlike Kinect, which is built for gaming consoles, Leap Motion has broader applications and is far more precise, suitable for detailed and complex tasks.

🕒 Availability and Price of Leap Motion

Holtz confirms that the Leap Motion device will be available in the winter at a price point of $70. This price makes it an affordable option for those looking to enhance their interaction with digital environments.

📱 Demonstrating the Device at Home

The conversation moves to how the Leap Motion can be used in a home setting. Holtz demonstrates how users can interact with websites, such as CBSNews.com, using just hand gestures. This functionality mimics the experience of using a touchscreen, but instead, users can control their computers through mid-air gestures, offering a seamless and effortless user experience.

🎮 Gaming with Leap Motion

Holtz shows how the Leap Motion can also be used for gaming, highlighting the device’s speed and accuracy. He demonstrates how a small movement of the finger can control large areas on the screen with high precision, reducing the strain of prolonged physical interaction that would occur with a touchscreen.

🗺️ Exploring Maps with Leap Motion

The final demo focuses on exploring maps using Leap Motion. Holtz shows how users can control a map, making small finger motions to navigate, zoom, and rotate the map. Both Holtz and the interviewer are able to interact simultaneously with the map, demonstrating the device's ability to track multiple fingers at once.

📡 Closing Remarks and Thanks

The video wraps up with the presenter thanking Holtz for the demonstrations and insights into Leap Motion. The audience is encouraged to stay updated with the latest technology news on CBSNews.com.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Leap Motion

Leap Motion is the name of the motion-sensing device featured in the video. It is a highly accurate and powerful technology that allows users to control digital environments through hand and finger movements without touching a screen. In the video, the CTO of Leap Motion demonstrates its use by manipulating objects on a screen with small finger gestures.

💡3D motion sensing

3D motion sensing refers to the technology that tracks hand and finger movements in a three-dimensional space, allowing users to interact with digital content without physical contact. This concept is central to the Leap Motion device, which captures fine movements and translates them into digital actions, such as navigating a webpage or rotating a 3D object.

💡David Holtz

David Holtz is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-founder of Leap Motion, who appears in the video to discuss and demonstrate the capabilities of the device. His role is important as he explains the technical details and potential applications of the motion-sensing technology.

💡Accuracy

Accuracy in the context of Leap Motion refers to the precision with which the device can track even the smallest hand or finger movements. Holtz emphasizes that the Leap Motion is 'several hundred times more accurate' than similar devices, such as the Microsoft Kinect, making it ideal for tasks requiring fine motor control.

💡Microsoft Kinect

Microsoft Kinect is a motion-sensing device developed for the Xbox 360 gaming console. It also allows users to control games and other software with body movements. However, in the video, it is compared to Leap Motion, with the latter being described as significantly more accurate and suitable for different applications like 3D design and browsing.

💡Architects and Engineers

Architects and engineers are examples of professionals who could benefit from using Leap Motion in their work. The device’s ability to control 3D models in a digital space makes it a useful tool for designing structures or machinery, allowing for more intuitive interaction with complex digital models.

💡User Interface

The user interface is how people interact with computers and digital devices. Leap Motion provides an innovative way to control a user interface by moving one's hands in the air, offering a more immersive and tactile experience similar to using a tablet or smartphone, but without physical contact.

💡Gaming

Gaming is one of the applications discussed for Leap Motion. Its precision allows for enhanced control in video games, offering a more interactive experience. The video demonstrates how small finger movements can control a game on a computer screen, providing an alternative to touchscreens or traditional game controllers.

💡3D Input Device

A 3D input device, such as Leap Motion, allows users to control digital objects in three dimensions using their hands. This contrasts with traditional input devices like a mouse or keyboard, which typically operate in two dimensions. The Leap Motion device is demonstrated in the video to manipulate 3D maps and objects with hand gestures.

💡CBS News Tech Talk

CBS News Tech Talk is the segment during which the Leap Motion technology is introduced. It is a news program that focuses on new and emerging technologies. In this episode, the host interviews David Holtz to explore how Leap Motion can transform home computing with its motion-sensing capabilities.

Highlights

Introduction to the 3D motion-sensing technology by Leap Motion.

David Holtz, CTO and co-founder of Leap Motion, presents the device.

Leap Motion is the world's most accurate and powerful motion-sensing device.

Real-world examples of usage: Architects and engineers can benefit from 3D input when designing complex structures.

Leap Motion connects users to computers in the same way tablets and smartphones provide seamless interactions.

Comparison with Microsoft Kinect: Leap Motion is much more accurate and plugs directly into computers.

Release details: Leap Motion will be available this winter for $70.

The device can be used for browsing websites like CBS News without directly touching the computer.

Leap Motion offers an effortless experience, similar to using a touchscreen device in the air.

The device also enhances gaming, mapping small hand movements to larger areas of the screen with precision.

Demonstration of using Leap Motion to navigate a map of New York with finger motions.

Leap Motion can track multiple fingers, allowing collaborative control of on-screen objects.

Rotation of 3D objects is made easy with the device's accurate tracking capabilities.

Leap Motion enables users to control their computers without needing a touchscreen or physical input devices.

Leap Motion's technology promises a fast, accurate, and intuitive interface for home computers.