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Bligmerk
08-07-2011, 07:16
Sony filed this patent in 2009 but it was only recently published. It describes gesture control of a handheld with a front camera for menus and games. If this is part of the Vita GUI and part of games, that would be very cool to interact with a Sackboy as if he was behind a piece of glass. Fist bumping Sackboy like the picture, giving him the spark of life. Depending on how well integrated Vita is with the PS3, there are some wild possibilities.



http://playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/LittleBigPlanet_Vita.jpg

We’ve discovered a patent for gesture based controls for a Sony Computer Entertainment portable that has an inbuilt camera. Recently published, but filed back in 2009, SCEI’s patent allows for people to interact with the handheld using their finger.

The patent initially describes the problems of having a device that can only be interacted with by using buttons or a touchpad, saying that “it is not easy to give an instruction to the information processing apparatus in a situation in which it is not easy to operate an operating member.”

The “invention” aims to solve this problem by using the device’s inbuilt camera to track a user’s finger. Therefore, if you move your finger clockwise, the pointer on screen will move clockwise:
http://playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/VitaCircle-1.jpg
What’s more, the camera doesn’t simply track your finger – it also tracks the distance from the Vita/device. This means that your finger is tracked in a 3D space, allowing for full control and the ability to interact by jabbing at the screen:
http://playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/VitaJab-1.jpg
While most of the patent focuses on using one finger, one drawing does show five fingertips being tracked, suggesting more is possible:
http://playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/FiveFingerVita-1.jpg
Another drawing also shows how the finger tracking could be used in the game:
http://playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/VitaGestureGame-1.jpg
It is important to point out that the Vita is never directly named, and that the patent might never become a reality – but would you interact with your Vita using gesture based controls? Let us know in the comments below.

http://playstationlifestyle.net/2011/08/05/sony-patents-gesture-based-controls-for-vita/

mickice
08-07-2011, 07:27
Finger tracking too? Wow.

radgamer420
08-07-2011, 07:34
Kind of like a portable Kinect. lol

mickice
08-07-2011, 07:59
Must be why the front facing camera isn't center of the device, it's just above the face button.

http://afxclan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ps_vita_vs_psp_011.jpg

Pretty crazy when you think about it. Vita is getting better and better, I already wanted one xD.

Ghost-Rhayne
08-07-2011, 10:19
It's an exciting time in the Sony camp. Although nothing is set in concrete regarding the capabilities and the scope of the Vitas functionality, both alone and integrated with the PS3, it is interesting to see all the rumors and articles. Most interesting/amusing for me is how Vita can act as a PS3 controller. Now with this additional patent and the possibility of it being used in Vita, it's going to be interesting. Sony have an exclusive deal with those guys who made the AR fighting game, so there will be some creative and interesting applications for this.