Posted by admin in The control of a humanoid robot is now right at your fingertips. Researchers at the graduate school of media design at Tokyo’s Keio University have designed iPod software that can control androids. Better still, you need not learn how to use controller commands like joysticks, paddles and buttons. All it needs is some natural gestures on the touchscreen.
The Keio project, called “Walky,” uses the touchscreen of an iPod or iPhone for creating an intuitive interface. This interface can control android movements using natural gestures. If you use a walking motion with your index and middle finger, it will make the robot walk. Tap the screen and you’ll see the robot jumping up and down; flick a finger to find how it triggers a kicking motion. Could it be any simpler?
The team of researchers at Keio has plans to later use the software for controlling digital characters like on-screen avatars in video games.
This kind of intuitive use of remote controls can prove especially popular given that every other game available today requires learning a complex set of moves on joysticks or the keyboard for you to be able to play it well. It might even increase the acceptance of games among non-gamers.
The software will not be available for integration into gadgets this holiday season. However, it is scheduled for its official debut in December at SIGGRAPH Asia in Yokohama. We won’t be waiting long after all.
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