"Harry Potter" and Dolphin Remote Control for TVs

I'm growing more and more convinced that novel input devices take a side by side place with
advanced graphics in the digital TV world. 3D is not good unless you can navigate it. A run-jump game needs well, running and jumping or two key presses simultaneously. Shooting games work
much better with a pointer device. Simply put, the traditional RCU is not enough for next generation user interfaces. To this end I'll include remote control devices to go alongside the graphics on this blog.


The first device of interest is the Dolphin: a point and click device. It is based on the hardware development kit from Hillcrest Labs (see this blog entry) and gives a very positive mid air feel (unlike some devices in this category). The Dolphin can be used as a air mouse or can have gesture recognition. There is a longer article here. The device will apparently ship with Kodak picture viewer in the near future and shipping in huge numbers is likely to make the device costs come down.



A second and incredibly fun device is the Kymera Magic Wand from the Magic Wand Company. It comes in a real dragon skin box (I am told) and allows the young at heart to control an IR device in the home using a flick and swish. Infact the device can recgnise 13 different inputs (tap, tap side, rotate right, flick, rotate left, quick flick left or right, pull back push forward and so on). The device is programmable with the input from your cumbersome remote control and can send any IR signal for any gesture, allowing such feats as rewinding, power on from standby and volume control all with Hermione Granger grace.

It works and can even control lights in the house (infinite fun) but does cost a whopping 50 uk pounds from the Magic Wand Company. I know I'm buying one for my little Hermione.