Mgestyk system promises gesture control on the cheap

As we've seen, it's not exactly all that difficult for someone with the necessary skills to whip up their own gesture-based control system, but the folks at upstart Mgestyk Technologies seem to think they've got something a bit more notable on their hands, and they're actually planning on selling it to the general public. While the complete details are a bit light at the moment, their system apparently makes use of nothing more than an "affordable 3D camera" and some custom software to capture even small hand gestures, which seems to work at least reasonably well in the video after the break -- though we doubt many gamers will be quick to ditch their Razer or SteelSeries mouse. What's more, while Mgestyk already has a waiting list going, they aren't making any promises about an actual release date just yet, or a price for that matter, with them only saying that it'll be "in the range of a high-end webcam."

[Patriks7 @ Nov 6th 2008 1:04PM]

BOOOM! headshot.

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Nov 6th 2008 1:28PM]

I got a gesture for ya...

[Harkonian @ Nov 6th 2008 2:33PM]

No no no! This is more along the lines of:

"I'm crushing your head, I'm crushing your head!" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Tyzik]

[ArcticFox @ Nov 6th 2008 1:08PM]

Looks cool, maybe a bit overcomplicated for games that require loads of controls, they need to sort out that massive lag though.

[Samboini @ Nov 6th 2008 2:05PM]

It will be worth it for the teabagging though!

[maveric101 @ Nov 6th 2008 1:09PM]

ah, Halo 1. good times.

[Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Nov 6th 2008 1:14PM]

I love all the Halo's, but yeah, the first one stole my heart.

[OneLove @ Nov 6th 2008 2:13PM]

halo took your virginity and made you a man.

[ark_v2 @ Nov 6th 2008 7:06PM]

I still play it in the campus network...people with tiny laptops can't play anything else; still very fun nevertheless.

This gesture control looks awesome!

[usedHONDA @ Nov 6th 2008 10:20PM]

Pwned in the face!

[Valicore @ Nov 6th 2008 1:09PM]

I like the first part with the apathetic looking chick putting as little energy as possible into the gesture. The tech is cool tho

[Flashpoint @ Nov 6th 2008 1:15PM]

How will this effect the future of viewing pornography?

[marc @ Nov 6th 2008 1:18PM]

Oh Snap! Better yet, WebCam Shows!

[Platinum_Skeet @ Nov 6th 2008 1:26PM]

The future is bright for the pron industry...

[Joetheplumber @ Nov 6th 2008 8:11PM]

It improves your laptops hygein after a happy session.....

[Tiptup300 @ Nov 6th 2008 1:18PM]

What's the gesture for t-bagging?

[r3loaded @ Nov 6th 2008 1:18PM]

POW! Haha!

[xtole @ Nov 6th 2008 1:25PM]

My arm is tired just gesturing "No no bad idea" at my monitor

[thethirdmoose @ Nov 6th 2008 4:38PM]

I think you can make less exaggerated gestures. If you can, this would be pretty neat for some uses.

[Jon Acheson @ Nov 6th 2008 1:28PM]

Or you could just buy a Playstation Eye and have the same thing, plus games that were designed for it.

[thethirdmoose @ Nov 6th 2008 4:37PM]

This looks like it's compatible with pre-existing games.

[Charles @ Nov 6th 2008 1:28PM]

I don't understand why some people are so keen to switch from precise, latency free control mechanisms that work (console control pads, mouse+keyboard) to imprecise, laggy control mechanisms that don't (motion sensors, gesture control, touch screen).

I can see the benefit of touch screens in mobile smart devices since it's impractical to carry around a mouse and keyboard. However, for gaming and working on a PC these control mechanisms are vastly inferior to what we already have.

[Xee @ Nov 6th 2008 2:06PM]

I agree completely. When I first saw the "high-tech" interface in Minority Report my first thought was, "Man, that looks tiring if I had to do that for eight hours a day."

[t-o89 @ Nov 6th 2008 8:34PM]

yeah that is exactly what i was thinking i would take my mx518 over that any day besides the James bond and mission impossible music would get annoying after a while

[Tdburn @ Nov 6th 2008 1:34PM]

The game controls were very unconvincing, and wouldn't your arms get tired pretty quickly holding them up like that for the camera?

I did however see the potential of controlling your computer like the minority report that was cool, but for games I don't see it being much use.

[Jdegid @ Nov 6th 2008 2:06PM]

Wow LAG!!!!!!!

all I want for xmas is a mouse and Keyboard for my Xbox360

is that too much to ask for MS??????????

J

[Jeff @ Nov 6th 2008 4:30PM]

you can

video : http://www.xcm.cc/new-XFPS-PRO-HALO_3.wmv

one place to buy : http://www.consoleshop.com/product.php?productid=20688&cat=259&page=3

[OneLove @ Nov 6th 2008 2:15PM]

prepare to get owned with that laggy response time.

[Phoenix @ Nov 6th 2008 2:24PM]

How do you, perhance, walk around whilst aiming? aim whilst driving?

[Harry Wagstaff @ Nov 6th 2008 4:37PM]

Use one hand for movement and the other for aiming. You could use the 'gun' gestures for aiming and the 'thumbs up' gestures for movement - thumb down to stop, thumb up for forward, tilt hand for sidestep.

[Phoenix @ Nov 6th 2008 4:45PM]

The movement thing you've spoken of there seems unintuitive.

[Sean @ Nov 6th 2008 3:27PM]

There doesn't seem to be much information on the technical aspect of the 3d camera. Anyone have any more information on that?

[Jeff @ Nov 6th 2008 4:31PM]

The camera looks a lot like this one here; http://www.3dvsystems.com/technology/product.html

[couchpundit @ Nov 6th 2008 3:45PM]

Read the fine print: not recommended for Italians

[my apologies to the Italian community--but it was too funny not to say it]

[Deusexx @ Nov 6th 2008 4:52PM]

This even could be used as an kind of keyboard with sign language that one that the deaf people use.

[xmrgamerx @ Nov 6th 2008 5:01PM]

pew pew pew

[Pwnge @ Nov 6th 2008 5:01PM]

BEASTING!!! Kinda slow to respond -- but DAMN i want it!

[DirtyVegas @ Nov 6th 2008 5:18PM]

Coming soon - webcams that use your expressions as input. Kill enemies, literally, in the blink of an eye!

[TIMMAH! @ Nov 6th 2008 7:37PM]

For GTA you'd have to turn your finger-gun 90-degrees...

[Deafcyclist @ Nov 6th 2008 8:00PM]

awesome, being deaf I can see some use for this. such as conversing with a hearing person via this program hooked up to skype or something like this. That would get rid of a middle-person (interpeter/operators) from being able to learn your private info like SSN and bank account number.

Also, some of you says that this would be tiring to use? just keep using it and after a while, it'll become easy to keep using it even more. I'm deaf so I use sign languages all the times without any issues.

Yeah there is some issues with the tech (such as the lag) but it is a start. I hope that this tech do get developed for the consumer because I would still save up for this and buy it as soon as I could asap.

[Justin @ Nov 6th 2008 9:15PM]

Fucking awesome!

[霽月瀛台 @ Nov 7th 2008 8:32AM]

Why should we do something to make games less realistic?

[anwar @ Nov 9th 2008 11:17AM]

I think it is very cool idea. I see many potential uses of this technology.

[Anisur @ Nov 9th 2008 11:18AM]

This is great!! This is something showing us the future of technological endeavor.

[skatergeek @ Mar 27th 2009 12:53AM]

this would be awesome if it were combined with a 3d display..... i sigh just thinking out it......