Project: Air Guitar lets you rock out sans axe
Sure, that whole Minority Report-style gesture-based input technology has a ton of potentially useful applications, but a partnership between groups in Finland and Italy know that what we all really want from this nascent tech is a way to play virtual air guitar. Started as part of the EU-funded ALMA project, Project: Air Guitar uses a video cam to capture Slashes-in-training as they rock out wearing brightly-colored gloves, and translates their movements into audible music using proprietary software. The air guitar app recognizes a user sliding his/her hand up and down the virtual guitar neck, performing "hammer-ons" and "blues bends," and is compatible with a floor pedal that adjusts chords. The team is currently working on a method of duplicating the experience for people at home, presumably using PC webcams along with the prototype software and neon gloves. If they are able to commercialize this product, along with the usual off-key crooning, we may soon witness people flailing their limbs like idiots at our favorite karaoke bars.
[Via New Scientist]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DC @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM
I physically NEED this now
victor dorp @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM
Rooofuus!!! :) (Bill S. Preston Esquire)
Tallon @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM
Freaking awesome. I personally love air guitaring. Of course it might ruin some of the fun but it'll definitely be interesting.
cadpo77 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM
Whay has it taken so long for this tech to get somewhere? I remeber seeing a basketball game bases on the colored-glove no less than 7 years ago at the Carnegie Science Cente.r
Simon @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM
holy cow thats freekin cool. I totally love that i am so buying one when it comes out wahaha now i can rock onto ozzy ousbourne
christy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM
I think your headline was meant to read "Air Guitar lets you rock out sans girlfriend" or "Air Guitar lets you rock out sans social interaction of any kind".
YourTechSupport @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM
Cannaigettahellyeah?
Imagine what this technology can be used for, aside from Air Guitaring, but for using your Desktop, or manipulating objects in 3D without clunky gloves.