motion on technabob...

If this year’s E3 is any indication (and it’s like, the indication), then motion controls are the future. If you’re cunning and good with wires, you can even experience the future now.

This is pretty basic–as strange as it is to refer to motion controlled gaming as basic–considering this glove is just a holder for an accelerometer, so that the tilt…

If you spend an inordinate amount of time off-road biking, downhill skiing, skydiving or something equally adventurous, here’s a great way to capture those thrilling moments of your life.

The new VholdR ContourHD is a wearable HD camcorder that can shoot full 16:9 widescreen video to capture your daredevil moments in glorious high definition. The camera shoots at 1280×720 (720p)…

Ok, how’s this for a concept? Take two moody lovers on a park bench. Put them inside your iPhone or iPod Touch. Shake them vigorously. Watch the sparks fly.

Yep, that’s the idea behind interactive artist Eric Loyer’s new iPhone app, Ruben & Lullaby. By jostling your iPhone, you’ll make the lovers angry. Give them a little stroke, and they’ll…

This amazing combination of technology and graphical artistry makes for some of the most realistic and precise 3D animated facial expressions I’ve ever seen come out of a computer.

Pendulum Studios’, AlterEgo division combines facial expression software, precision motion capture, and good old-fashioned artistry to reproduce the most minute facial movements you’ve ever seen on a digital actor. Every wrinkle,…

I came across this nifty concept for an electronic plaything earlier this week and thought I’d share it with you guys.

Steve Gilbertson’s interactive color cube uses a 3-axis accelerometer to detect movements and relays that information to a grid of brightly colored LEDs to create a portable light show in a box.

Each axis of the accelerometer (X, Y,…

Here’s some pretty cool news which could provide entirely new ways to interact with your computer or game console. This new technology will enable automated 3-dimensional tracking of heads and faces using a webcam along with some very special tracking software.

Seeing Machines faceAPI is a developers’ toolkit which provides easy head tracking on all three axes. When combined with…

Sure, there are lots of devices which are starting to embed motion sensors or touch screens to power new user interface paradigms. But this is the first time I’ve seen a motion-sensitive device which is designed to be operated entirely with one hand.

KEYnetik’s motion interface system uses multiple accelerometers to detect not just the direction of movement, but to…

Taking a page from systems like the Sony EyeToy and the Nintendo Wii control scheme, this new camera from Israel’s 3DV Systems could bring gaming interaction to a whole new level.

The company’s recently revealed ZCam is capable of not only capturing gamers’ most intricate gestures, but detecting full-body movements in three dimensions, without the need for the player to…

Interactive artist Andrew Fentem created this cool electronic cube puzzle game loaded with colorful LEDs. The Fentix Cube is controlled by touch as well as through movement.

While it’s designed as a platform, capable of playing a number of different games and puzzles, the interactive plaything happens to do a great job digitally emulating the old Rubik’s Cube.
The digital…

Interactive artist Marcus Graf created this dramatic video display window which keeps a watchful eye on passersby.

The piece, entitled I, ball used a webcam along with special processing software to detect people as they pass the display window. A series of digitized eyeball movements then follow the those who approach the window. The installation was on display at the…

In the wee hours of the morning today, Sony Japan rolled out (literally) the Rolly Sound Entertainment Player (model SEP-10BT). The egg-shaped device isn’t just an odd-looking media player, it’s a little robotic gadget that can roll around and do a little “dance” on your tabletop while it plays your tunes.

It does have an interesting user interface, in which…

A hacker claims to have written custom software which directly accesses the accelerometer on Apple’s iPhone. He’s put together a brief video clip which shows off some really fun use of the motion-sensing capabilities.

While I’m a bit skeptical that the video clip could be a fake, developer Erling Ellingsen does have a track record hacking motion-sensors and says he’ll…

It’s been a long time coming, but we finally know when the PlayStation EYE camera for the PS3 is going to hit shelves. Originally thought to be coming out this Summer, it now looks like a Fall 2007 release.

Amazon.com is now listing a bundle which includes the game Eye of Judgment and the EYE camera for $59.99. They’re currently showing…

I was rummaging around the USPTO Patent database earlier today, and came across this intriguing patent application from Nintendo.

The filing, originally dated March 30, 2007 (but just updated this week) describes a portable gaming system that includes X/Y/Z motion sensing that’s similar to that found in the Wii-Mote. The application abstract describes the system as follows:
“A game system…

Budding 3D graphics and animation buffs, there’s a new reason to get excited this morning. A company called NaturalPoint has just announced a complete motion capture systems that only costs about $5,000.

Traditional (if you can call them that) MoCap systems usually start around $30,000, and often much more. The OptiTrack ARENA system uses anywhere from six to twelve digital…