ThinkOptics' WavIt 3D Media-PC Remote gunning for Wiimote

We're hearing some fairly bold words from a startup company with a purported Wiimote killer, even though it's about as far from the gaming realm as it could possibly be. In what's likely a shameless attempt to link the WavIt 3D Media-PC Remote to the well-regarded Wiimote, ThinkOptics has reportedly "made a pointing system for the computer and TV that makes the Nintendo Wii's controller look downright primitive." Realistically, the Wavlt doesn't look much better than any other overachieving wireless pointing device, but it does hope to interact with TVs and HTPCs in order to make on-screen navigation a bit less painful. Additionally, the creator is looking to incorporate the motion-sensing device into home automation in order to raise and dim lights, crank up the furnace, or mute your youngster's blaring music from the living room. The controller supposedly utilizes both RF and infrared technologies, and although it can track minute twists, flips, and turns, it does lack both an accelerometer and built-in Bluetooth. Notably, the wand will rely on the 2.4GHz band as well as Zigbee's 802.15 protocol, and while no firm release date was set, official pricing information should be unveiled shortly. [Warning: Read link requires subscription]

[CowboyGA @ Apr 30th 2007 8:58AM]

I thought these things had to have an accelerometer. It's been a few months since I've played in the diode trays at RadioShack, so can anyone explain how else to make it gesture sensitive?

[Ray-- @ Apr 30th 2007 10:14AM]

ancient chinese secret

[Sam @ Apr 30th 2007 1:32PM]

CowboyGA
- I thought these things had to have an accelerometer ... can anyone explain how
- else to make it gesture sensitive?

An accelerometer is only needed to track g-force. To track changes in displacement (thus velocity and acceleration), you can probably get by with a simple GPS-like system. If the remote can track changes in 4 LEDs (of slightly different wavelengths), it can conceivably triangulate (is it quadrangulate when you have 4 points?) its position in space. Just a guess.