Gesture-based TV Remote Control

If you are like me, you constantly lose that stupid remote control. I honestly do not know what it is that causes that dang thing to under the couch, but it always ends up there.

Fortunately, Australian scientists have discovered a way to control my TV from the couch without having need of a remote. The gesture-based TV control uses hand signals like sign language to control the power and channels, and that’s just the functions that my sources tell me.

As you can see from the above diagram, the gesture-based TV control has a separate control box with a camera that can somehow recognize simple hand gestures. In fact, the camera is advanced enough to detect the movements of pets or small children. Still, something tells me that there will be some common hand gestures that will get mistaken for TV controls. I think that’s just going to be inevitable.

So far, the only gestures my sources tell me is that a clenched fist means “start”, and an outstretched flat hand is “power on”. Two fingers refer to a channel selection, and a thumbs up will move the channel up. I can only assume that a thumbs down will move the channel down. Looks like channel surfing will be as simple as doing the Fonz continuously. Hopefully, these cameras that this device uses will detect subtlety.

Still, I’m not certain that consumers are ready for televisions with cameras in them. I’ve always been scared about an age where television watches us, and this could be a step in that direction. That is, if these gesture-based televisions were connected to the net, which is becoming more and more common these days.

All Big Brother allusions aside, there is definite application for this technology. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was adapted onto every television. Not only will this save us from finding the remote, but hand gestures do not require batteries.

If this technology does catch on, I see a clear rise in the knowledge of sign language skills. After all, most remotes have many buttons, and it will be necessary to learn at least the numbers to get the proper channel. Also, is there a way to operate your DVD, VCR, or even DVR functions? Someone really needs to make this technology a reality.

However, if comfort is your goal for your television, and if you are too lazy to learn new hand signals, then you should consider the Couch Cushion Remotes.