Hewlett-Packard in September became the first top-tier PC maker to embed Leap Motion’s gesture control technology directly into the system.
The vendor rolled it out with the Envy 17 Leap Motion Special Edition (SE) notebook, which offers the gesture control technology in the device’s palm rest. Even though it has a traditional keyboard, Envy 17 SE can respond to natural hand and finger movements in the air, enabling users to interact with a variety of apps in the notebook without having to touch the device.
Now HP is expanding the use of Leap Motion’s technology by embedding it into 11 desktop and all-in-one (AIO) PCs, according to the companies. Actually, Leap Motion’s software and its Airspace Store—which offers more than 140 apps that can work with the company’s technology—will be integrated into the systems themselves. The motion-control hardware—which was embedded directly into the Envy 17 SE—will be offered embedded in special standalone keyboards that will work with the desktop and AIOs, according to Leap Motion officials.
The technology is located at the top of the keyboard, labeled with the Leap Motion name. It’s the same technology found on the Envy 17 SE, Leap Motion officials said in a post on the company blog.
“In September, we took our first step with HP, who launched the HP ENVY 17 Leap Motion SE—the world’s first notebook embedded with our technology,” they wrote. “Through hardware optimization and innovation, our engineers were able to design a micro sensor that’s only 3.5 millimeters in height, which is also now embedded in HP’s newest keyboard.”
The technology will be found in three desktop PCs—the Envy 700, Envy Phoenix 810 and Pavilion 500—and eight AIO systems—the Envy Recline 23 Beats, Envy Recline 23 TouchSmart, Recline 27 TouchSmart, Envy TouchSmart 23, Envy TouchSmart 23 SE, Pavilion 23, Pavilion 23 TouchSmart and Pavilion 21 TouchSmart.
Users will be able to control applications while being within eight cubic feet of the Leap Motion sensor, according to the company. HP offers a video demonstrating the technology on the Envy 17 SE,
Leap Motion officials in the blog post, while touting the new HP systems the technology will be in, said their plans go well beyond consumer devices. The technology will be applicable in a wide range of areas, including the car.
“In the future, motion control will become a part of everyday life, with motion-control technology embedded in a wide variety of devices—including tablets, smartphones, interactive kiosks, and head-mounted displays,” they wrote. “At the same time, Leap Motion technology will become ubiquitous among desktop platforms. Each step opens the door even wider for people to play, create, and explore in new ways.”