Technology turns home objects into TV controls

Matchpoint motion detection technology helps users turn objects around or body parts into a TV control.

Scientists at Lancaster University in the UK are developing a new technology that allows us to use objects around or the body as a TV control, News Scientist said on Oct. 1. believe. This technology, called the Matchpoint , features a special webcam that recognizes motion around and converts to the corresponding TV controls.

Installation and setup steps are also very simple. When Matchpoint technology is connected to the TV, the screen will display various function icons such as channel switching or volume down.

Matchpoint technology is scheduled to be unveiled at Canada's UIST2017 conference next month. Photo: New Scientist.

To select the desired function, users only need to draw in the air an image corresponding to the function icon on the screen, to enable that function into remote control mode, such as drawing circles to click Increase the volume, or draw a square to open the channel switch function.

As such, the Matchpoint system will detect motion around and translate into the corresponding control commands. For example, when activating the volume up or down, a volume slider will pop up on the screen. We just need to shake the cup left or right, matching the direction of the slider to increase the volume. as expected.

However, one question is whether the unwanted movements of the body or surrounding objects will affect the operation of the motion detection system. Dr Christopher Clarke of Lancaster University, who led the project, said he and his colleagues had taken this into account when developing Matchpoint technology.

Specifically, the system allows users to hide the remote control function by motion when desired. Also, to re-enable the function or switch to another function, the user needs to draw the corresponding symbol for the function icon as a circle, square. Therefore, unwanted movements are difficult to affect the operation of the Matchpoint system.

Clark and his team say they will continue to add even more functionality besides adjusting the volume and channel switching. Matchpoint technology is scheduled to be introduced at the UIST2017 conference in Quebec City, Canada in November.