Folding the Third Dimension into the Second
The birth of the graphical user interface has revolutionized the computer industry. The GUI introduced a new way we interact with computers. It has created a 2 dimensional plane of interaction. Where the computer is used to easily run millions of commands simultaneously without a delay in time.
Gesture control is become more and more realistic. Once upon a time it was something we just saw in sci-fi movies. Now it’s a reality. As cool as it might seem, there is a slight problem; it doesn’t provide efficiency and certainly doesn’t provide additional productivity. This issue needs to be addressed for gesture control to gain more popularity and soon become a standard just as the mouse.
The root of the problem is there exists a disconnect between the human interface device and the graphical user interface. When the interface we currently use, which was what revolutionized the operating system and the way we look at computers, is set to be controlled by a two dimensional manner. A mouse is used on a flat surface that represents what we see on a screen. Both the interaction mechanism and the interface are in the second dimension. Introducing gesture control becomes more tricky, whereas human gestures occur in the third dimension, while the interface is in the second dimension I have played around with the Leap motion and one of the add on application takes that into consideration, where essentially you move the 2d plane into the air. There is a window in front of your screen and that’s how you are able to transfer your motions into actions on the computer. It’s like controlling a touch screen laptop, without having to touch it. As I own a laptop with touch screen capabilities, while using my Leap Motion to control my computer, I sometimes have to refrain myself from just touching the screen for whatever command I want.
The technology for capturing and recognizing hand gestures is not the problem. It is how to we make it intuitive and how does our interface represent that third dimensional space. The hype in tablets and multitoucch display provide has taught users how to interact with a touch screen. Users are now informed with how to use such devices. Does gesture control build upon that knowledge to create use of such technology? Or should the user interface be reveloutionalize and get a complete makeover for such interactions to become meaningful and worth the change?
Other things to take into consideration are whether the people are ready for such change? Is it worth putting forth the efforts of redefining computing and then not be adopted by the people. How would gesture control be implemented in the business place, for you will need more space to control a computer, and definitely more stamina.