Tag Archives: motionsensor

Kangaroo expands its line of affordable smart home security sensors

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Smart home security is gaining traction, but it generally still comes at a price. Last year, however, startup company Kangaroo entered the market with its system of $30 peel-and-stick motion sensors and low-cost monitoring plans, designed to make sec...

Google’s living room plans reportedly included a Hangout-ready set-top box

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Google living room plans reportedly included a Hangoutready settop box

As if the Google TV and Chromecast platforms (which are coexisting, if you hadn't heard) weren't enough, the Wall Street Journal reports there may be more living room focused projects brewing in Mountain View. According to sources, former Android head Andy Rubin demonstrated a Roku-style set-top box for partners at CES that had Hangouts as its main feature, with a video camera and motion sensor built-in for videoconferencing -- something Logitech tried once with its ill-fated Revue TV Cam, shown above. The report claims the box, capable of running Android apps, games and services like Netflix or Pandora, was scheduled to launch at I/O, but it's unknown whether or not it's still in development. Recent WSJ rumors have suggested Google is looking into IPTV and its own Android game system, so even as one mystery is revealed others pop up to take its place.

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Source: Wall Street Journal

3BaysGSA Putt: a Bluetooth golf gadget that puts eyes in your putter (hands on)

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3BaysGSA Putt a Bluetooth golf gadget that puts eyes in your putter hands on

Motion sensor-based golf devices are all the rage these days, but they mostly target the full swing. Can such electronics be accurate enough to measure a much smaller stroke, namely the all-important putt? Since golf season's nearly here, we decided to find out with the $200 3BaysGSA Putt, a tiny, lightweight device that fits in the handle of a putter and relays stroke information via Bluetooth to an Android or iOS device. As Engadget's resident golf nut, yours truly put the device through its paces both objectively and in a less-than-formal way to see whether it could accurately track a stroke. Will it help you lift your putter in victory, or make you wrap it around a tree? Hit the break to see how we did.

Gallery: 3Bays GSA Putt Hands-On

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Game Golf system caddies your tee-to-green stats, doesn’t pack your clubs (video)

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Game Golf tracks your stats automatically

For those of us obsessed with chasing the proverbial white ball, accurate stats are tough to come by -- unlike the pros who have every drive, chip and putt scoped to the nearest inch. That inspired Golf Game, a system that pairs NFC with current golf tech like GPS and motion sensors to track your every duff. It uses NFC-equipped tags that pop into the end of each club and a hip-mounted "GYG" device to collect the data with a battery life of two rounds (about 8 hours) -- and no need to pack a smartphone or tablet onto the course. The golfer then "tags" his club against the hip-worn device prior to taking a lunge, and every shot from a 300-yard drive to a 5-inch putt is duly noted.

After the round, all that info can tell the story of your game via an iOS, Android or web app, displaying stats like driving distance, greens in regulation and putting. You'll also be able to create competitions among friends through the Game platform, and brag (or cry) about your play via Twitter, Facebook or email. The system's been backed by top-ranked players Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell, and is now on Indiegogo where the creators are seeking $125K to get it off the ground. A minimum $149 pledge will get you a Game Golf device by July (estimated), though if you're willing to pony up $500 for a limited edition autographed by the above pros, you could see it as early as May. Hit the PR or video after the break for more, or tee up one of your own at the source.

Gallery: Game Golf system

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Source: Game Golf (Indiegogo)

Nikon patent would perfect the art of camera tossing, protect us from our folly

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Nikon patent would perfect the art of camera tossing, protect us from our folly

If you're one of the more daring (or foolhardy) photographers out there, you've tried camera tossing: hurling your camera into the air in the hopes that a timed shot will catch either a unique perspective or an artistic spin. Nikon might not want to stop those shooters from throwing caution to the wind, but its recently published Japanese patent would at least keep those throws to a minimum. Cameras based on the patent could use a built-in accelerometer not just for timing the shot, but to brace for a fall by covering the lens and retracting its barrel on the way down. In theory, the photographer gets a perfect aerial portrait without all the guesswork and a minimum of damage. Call us skeptical that we'll ever see the patent reach a shipping product, though -- even if it was limited to rugged cameras, a mode built almost exclusively around voiding the warranty probably wouldn't sit well with Nikon's accountants.

[Image credit: Zoli B, Flickr]

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Nikon patent would perfect the art of camera tossing, protect us from our folly originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 04:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alps Electric integrates motion sensors and eye detection into vehicle cockpit of the future (video)

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Alps Electric integrates motion sensors, capacitive touch, eye detection into vehicle cockpit of the future video

Residing in hall space a fair distance away from the likes of the Toyota and Sony, the automotive division of Alps Electric was demonstrating a forward-looking vehicle interface at CEATEC 2012. Connecting together the company's existing capacitive touch technology with motion sensors and eye movement cameras, the system centers on the multimodal commander -- that mysterious-looking orb located below the gear stick. Navigation through it can be done through waving your hand over the device, swiping or rotating the orb like a dial. This can then move through weather, music and map programs, which are all integrated into the car's touchscreen, while an overhanging motion sensor will also detect where your hand is headed. An Alps spokesman said that this means the system can try to predict your intentions, adjusting the UI before you reach for the controls. We've got a hands-on video from pretty busy showroom -- and more impressions -- after the break.

Continue reading Alps Electric integrates motion sensors and eye detection into vehicle cockpit of the future (video)

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Alps Electric integrates motion sensors and eye detection into vehicle cockpit of the future (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SoftKinetic’s motion sensor tracks your hands and fingers, fits in them too (video)

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Coming out of its shell as a possible Kinect foe, SoftKinetic has launched a new range sensor at Computex right on the heels of its last model. Upping the accuracy while shrinking the size, the DepthSense 325 now sees your fingers and hand gestures in crisp HD and as close as 10cm (4 inches), an improvement from the 15cm (6 inches) of its DS311 predecessor. Two microphones are also tucked in, making the device suitable for video conferencing, gaming and whatever else OEMs and developers might have in mind. We haven't tried it yet, but judging from the video, it seems to hunt finger and hand movements quite competently. Hit the break to see for yourself.

Show full PR text

SoftKinetic Announces World's Smallest HD Gesture Recognition Camera and Releases Far and Close Interaction Middleware

Professional Kit Available For Developers To Start Building a New Generation of Gesture-Based Experiences

TAIPEI & BRUSSELS - June 5, 2012 - SoftKinetic, the pioneering provider of 3D vision and gesture recognition technology, today announced a device that will revolutionize the way people interact with their PCs. The DepthSense 325 (DS325), a pocket-sized camera that sees both in 3D (depth) and high-definition 2D (color), delivered as a professional kit, will enable developers to incorporate high-quality finger and hand tracking for PC video games, introduce new video conferencing experiences and many other immersive PC applications. The DS325 can operate from as close as 10cm and includes a high-resolution depth sensor with a wide field of view, combined with HD video and dual microphones.

In addition, the company announced the general availability of iisu[TM] 3.5, its acclaimed gesture-recognition middleware compatible with most 3D sensors available on the market. In addition of its robust full body tracking features, iisu 3.5 now offers the capacity to accurately track users' individual fingers at 60 frames per second, opening up a new world of close-range applications.

"SoftKinetic is proud to release these revolutionary products to developers and OEMs," said Michel Tombroff, CEO of SoftKinetic. "The availability of iisu 3.5 and the DS325 clearly marks a milestone for the 3D vision and gesture recognition markets. These technologies will enable new generations of video games, edutainment applications, video conference, virtual shopping, media browsing, social media connectivity and more."

SoftKinetic will demonstrate the new PC and SmartTV experiences and at its booth at Computex, June 5-9, 2012, in the NanGang Expo Hall, Upper Level, booth N1214. For business appointments, send a meeting request to events@softkinetic.com.

The DS325 Professional Kit is available for pre-order now at SoftKinetic's online store (http://www.softkinetic.com/Store.aspx) and is expected to begin shipping in the coming weeks.

iisu 3.5 Software Development Kit is available free for non-commercial use at SoftKinetic's online store (http://www.softkinetic.com/Store.aspx) and at iisu.com.

About SoftKinetic S.A.
SoftKinetic's vision is to transform the way people interact with the digital world. SoftKinetic is the leading provider of gesture-based platforms for the consumer electronics and professional markets. The company offers a complete family of 3D imaging and gesture recognition solutions, including patented 3D CMOS time-of-flight sensors and cameras (DepthSense[TM] family of products, formerly known as Optrima product family), multi-platform and multi-camera 3D gesture recognition middleware and tools (iisu[TM] family of products) as well as games and applications from SoftKinetic Studios.

With over 8 years of R&D on both hardware and software, SoftKinetic solutions have already been successfully used in the field of interactive digital entertainment, consumer electronics, health care and other professional markets (such as digital signage and medical systems). SoftKinetic, iisu, DepthSense and The Interface Is You are trade names or registered trademarks of SoftKinetic. For more information on SoftKinetic please visit www.softkinetic.com. For videos of SoftKinetic-related products visit SoftKinetic's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/SoftKinetic.

Continue reading SoftKinetic's motion sensor tracks your hands and fingers, fits in them too (video)

SoftKinetic's motion sensor tracks your hands and fingers, fits in them too (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 22:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engineer Guy shows how a phone accelerometer works, knows what’s up and sideways (video)

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We love finding out how things work, and arguably one of the most important parts of the smartphones and tablets we thrive on is the accelerometer gauging our device's orientation. Imagine our delight, then, when we see the University of Illinois' Bill Hammack (i.e. The Engineer Guy) giving a visual rundown of how accelerometers work. Although it's certainly the Cliff's Notes version of what's going on in your Android phone or iPhone, the video does a great job of explaining the basic concepts behind three-axis motion sensing and goes on to illustrate how MEMS chips boil the idea down to the silicon form that's needed for our mobile hardware. Hammack contends that it's one of the coolest (and unsung) parts of a smartphone, and we'd definitely agree; you can see why in the clip after the break.

Continue reading Engineer Guy shows how a phone accelerometer works, knows what's up and sideways (video)

Engineer Guy shows how a phone accelerometer works, knows what's up and sideways (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 20:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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