New-Tech Europe Magazine | Feb 2017

Sensors Special Edition

maximizing the range and field of view, and particularly in the accuracy of detection – not only of position and movement – but perhaps more importantly in the correct understanding of a user’s intention. In addition to incremental improvements from enhanced software algorithms, plus more accurate lower-cost and lower- power camera and sensor hardware, tactile feedback adds another new dimension to the accuracy of touchless gesture recognition in interpreting a user’s commands and confirming the correct action. 1. Global Industry Analysts Inc. – Gesture Recognition, June 2015 2. Markets and Markets – Gesture Recognition & Touchless Sensing Market, June 2015

recently. Ultrahaptics has developed a range of focussed ultrasound techniques to augment recognition and control systems for hand gestures with touchless or mid-air haptic feedback. The company’s haptics evaluation kit – the only solution for touchless gesture recognition on the market today – includes a ‘leap motion’ camera and gesture recognition system and is allowing developers to experiment andgeneratenovel haptic sensations in touchless gesture control interfaces for a range of devices including computers, consumer electronics, domestic appliances and automotive dashboards. Summary Recognising human gestures and using them to control computers and equipment is well proven given the existing market of billions of smart consumer device and other electronic equipment. The advantages of not touching equipment are valuable, if not vital, in many use cases. Touchless gesture recognition has therefore become a well-established market sector and an area of academic and intense commercial research by major global corporations. There is little doubt that many challenges still remain in perfecting the user experience, including

touchscreens can use programmed interference patterns between several tiny vibrators around the edge of the glass display to produce haptic feedback at the fingertips and simulate different surface textures. Many new consumer products now feature haptic feedback - for example, major smart phonemakers are now implementing vibrational haptic feedback in some of their latest models - generating a great deal of interest for numerous other applications worldwide. A number of standard APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are now available for research in the field of haptics, and several of these are being used to produce tactile sensations in simulations and training for remote and keyhole surgery such as laparoscopy and other medical applications. Although tactile feedback provides a much more complete user experience - it closes the loop to provide helpful non-visual cues - almost all these approaches are limited by the need to be in physical contact with the haptic system. Therefore, they cannot be used in applications based on touchless gesture recognition at a distance. Evaluation Kit Providing touchless haptic feedback has been impossible until very

Vicky Messer, Technical Marketing Manager Ultrahaptics

5,000 KITS FOR FREE

Visit Arrow at booth 340 in hall 4A

New-Tech Magazine Europe l 63