Israel-based gesture control company eyeSight Mobile Technologies shows off in a video how its developed gesture controls for smartphone-based virtual reality headsets work.
At this day and age, phone-based VR headsets, such as Samsung Gear VR and Google Cardboard, are among the cheapest ways to get a glimpse of so-called virtual reality. What's lacking with these VR headsets, however, are the advanced motion-tracking controls that are only present in more expensive and sophisticated headsets, including the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.
With eyeSight's newly built technology, users are allowed to input commands or information into either augmented or VR devices without the need to use extra hardware. With the use of this new tech, users can control smartphone-based augmented and virtual reality.
The video eyeSight uploaded on YouTube shows a user playing a game that's floating right in front of him in augmented reality. His finger is tracked by the phone's rear-facing shooter that is strapped on his face as he points and clicks to control the game.
"As the era of virtual reality emerged the need for natural touch-free control over virtual content became ever so clear, as no buttons or controllers can provide a truly immersive virtual experience like control using the hands," said the Chief Executive Officer of eyeSight, Gideom Shmuel, in an interview with Digital Trends. "Allowing users to interact with virtual content by simply pointing a finger elevates the entire experience with VR, and this is something we seek to do on a mass market scale."
This gesture control technology should work on any iOS or Android device. It is also worth mentioning that it is not picky about headsets. This means that whether you have a Gear VR or a Google Cardboard, you can still benefit from what the new tech has to offer.
At the moment, there's no word yet from the company as to when customers should start to see gesture controls landing on their VR-ready phones.
Shmuel added that the company's aim is to alter the experience into an immersive one via the touch-free control.
"We seek to bring our computer vision technology to applications requiring human interaction," he added.
In any case, the imminent arrival of gesture controls on VR-ready smartphones is predicted to change smartphone-based VR experience.
Hit the play button below to watch the video.
