Never waste time again searching for the remote control nestled in the corners of your couch. A new interface lets you control devices in your home — from resetting the thermometer to changing the channel on your TV — with simply voice commands or hand gestures.
The Kickstarter page for the Flowton controller dubs the futuristic remote the "first natural interface controller." As long as you're in the same room as the sensor, you can change the TV channel with a flick of your wrist or turn up the air conditioner by lifting your palm.
The sensor comes with several templates that assign tasks to gestures, but Alec Gordon, the founder and CEO of Flowton Technologies, says those they are customizable. It's not so sensitive that a bunch of friends jumping around in the living room will make your TV go haywire. In order to access the remote, first reach your palm out toward the TV, like you're pushing a big invisible button. This tells the sensor to pay attention.
"Everybody's familiar with how the pointer works," said Gordon, referring to computers' point-and-click method. "Now we don't have to rely on a pointer, so we can use simple commands."
Gordon says he doesn't expect people to stop using normal remotes or eliminate light switches just yet.
"We're not trying to replace the remote, we're trying to enhance the experience," Gordon said. "If we just create a device people will use just five times a day, we've done our job."
That said, he does believe human interaction with technology will become increasingly natural, meaning manuals will be almost pointless because devices are so intuitive. Apple's iPhone paved the way with swiping and Xbox Kinect allowed people to play video games without controllers. Now, Gordon says, he wants to give people the remote-less remote.
Kickstarter contributors can receive their name on the company's website for $5 or get a custom-designed t-shirt and poster for $45. For $229, donors will be privy to one of the controllers.
With 8 days to go, the campaign has raised about $9,000 of its stated $150,000 goal. Even with intuitive projects, Gordon said, helping people understand your product is difficult. But he says the interface has caught a few eyes and they plan to roll out again in a few months' time.
Would you ditch remotes and switches for an interface controller like this? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Image: Wikimedia Commons