It is typically difficult to map in three dimensions (3D) at a very close distance in high precision very quickly. There are different ways to accurately represent three dimensions but that requires a 3D scanner that will take a number of “images” with light or infrared or sonar and then map it correctly. However, if you can map something very precisely then you can have devices that will change the human-computer interface to be something more useable.
A company called Leap motion has done just that. They produce a device that can precisely map the position of the hand, finger or a pencil in 3D space. Obviously, they are catering for the mass market as a replacement for the mouse or other pointing device, or even a keyboard, but the uses for such a device goes beyond a pointing device.
Here are some fields in biology that could benefit by using their system:
- Mapping of the hand where hand has been the major organ of disease initiation.
- For naturalists this would be easy and cheap way to get a 3D representation of the object – be it a butterfly or a flower.
- For the deaf and dumb it could form a nice interface from the hand to the computer.
- Invention required: Just like the sign language, there could be library for commonly used gestures that could represent words or even could represent actions on the computer.
- Diagnosis of hand based diseases such as arthritis and other joint problems
Obviously, there are many such uses for the new technology since they have signed agreement with Best-Buy today and Asus computers will have these incorporated into them. Can you think about other applications?