Posts tagged Airspace

TechGot: Leap Moition Review

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11 years
by in Uncategorized

After months of waiting, Leap Motion finally came! Originally, It was supposed to come in July, but you know how crowd-funders are. Anyway, now that it is here, I can say some things about how Leap actually works.

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The Leap How It Came

First of all, the Leap hardware is really nice. It is about as long as you finger and half as light. On the top is the scan area, which takes up the whole top. That gives it a very wide viewing area to work with and gives you a lot of freedom. All you have to do is plug it into a computer using 1 usb cable, and download the Airspace software on your computer and you are all set. Simple.

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Evolution Of Leap

Once you have downloaded the software, Leap goes through the “orientation”, which tells you how to work Leap (can view at any time). Then, it take you to Airspace. It literally is just the list of apps, a space-like background, a link to the online store, and a option to view the orientation. Again, Simple. At the very beginning, you have the option of downloading any of the free apps: Lotus, Shimsham, Cut The Rope and Molecules. Lotus is great; it basically harnesses the power of Leap and combines it in a very cool way with music. Shimsham is a 2 player gravity game that I also recommend. Cut The Rope is a Leap version of the classic iPhone app. It is fun, but very very short. And last of all, Molecules is what it sounds like: a 3D adjustable model of various chemicals.

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The Airspace Welcome Screen

Here come the disappointing part. Not disappointing by much, but still a little disappointing. Some of the apps, I said SOME, are a bit jumbled when it comes to the pin-point accuracy. Who knows why, but on some apps, such as  the drum app AirBeats, the controls are a bit hard to use. For instance, most apps use the system where you keep your finger on a menu option for a certain amount of time to select. In some apps, the mouse may flicker around making it hard to do that. It can be very frustrating. Still, this is an amazing device for such a cheap price. Despite what I said, it would still be worth buying to for someone who wants to stay ahead of the game in tech. To learn more about the Leap, check out my original post on the Leap!

 

TechSpot: Leap Motion Renders The Mouse Obsolite

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11 years
by in TechSpots

Everyone has a mouse.  Everyone has a computer.  Without a mouse, today’s computers are largely useless. Alternatives like the trackpad exist, but essentially mimic the same actions. Leap Motion may take more time to get used to to, but it could bring a host of new possibilities for musicians, game designers, gamers, developers, or just any old average Joe. It could change the way you use the computer. Literally.

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Leap Motion

So how does this tiny (3” long) cube change the way we (sc)roll?  Well, Leap Motion lets you use your primary appendage to do everything: your hands. Yes, it allows you to scroll, pinch, close, draw, play, and much much more using your hands. This unlocks several fascinating possibilities. The first is the apps. Since nothing like Leap Motion has been programmed for the masses before, all the apps will either be completely new or enhanced versions of more conventional apps. Along with Leap Motion, the developers will release a online store called Airspace where you can get all the apps for many occupations. I will highlight a few here:

  • Graphic Designer

    Leap Motion will revolutionize graphic design. You can draw with your fingers, or even draw with a pencil in the air. Also, 3D models will become virtual sculpting. Just an idea for you sculptors out there, but this could be the first mass produced sculpture using 3D printing. Every virtual model will become better with Leap Motion.

  • Musician

    Music could be another thing Leap Motion will revolutionize. Computerized music apps like GarageBand will be much easier to play. Before you know it, you’ll be playing the air guitar and the air drum, then sending it off to iTunes. You can use your instrument skills and not really buy the instrument, and still make music. Also, new music teaching apps will probably pop up so you can become a professional air guitarist, creating awesome music without paying for a teacher OR a instrument. If you are a musician or to-be-musician, Leap Motion is for you.

  • Educators/Students

    This is getting redundant, but online teaching will also get revolutionized. You can zoom through space in a hand-controlled spaceship, dive to the depths of the ocean, and fly through the world at a molecular perspective. Apps such as these could make teaching so much easier. Plus, learning visual gestures like sign language will be significantly upgraded. Leap Motion is teaching made easy.

  • Photographer/Cameraman

    OK, we can just say Leap Motion will revolutionize everything. Photography and videography apps like iMovie or Photoshop will allow you to play with photos with your fingers or move around a slideshow by grabbing photos and dragging them in their place. Anyone with tons of photos NEEDS this. Seriously.

  • Gamer

    Gaming isn’t revolutionized, it’s TRANSFORMED. Whether it is RPGs, strategy, creative, or just addictive (Angry Birds or Cut The Rope), Leap Motion will suck you right in. Hand motions will control the games, such as forming a gun shape with your fingers, making for a great interactive game. Racing games is another example of a game that will be amazing with Leap Motion. Most likely, you will pretend to hold a steering wheel and drive away. Leap Motion brings on a whole new prospecting in PC or Mac gaming that we have never seen before.

Leap Motion is not just an amazingly awesome tool, it is also a big opportunity for developers. New app ideas could flourish while old apps get a renewed chance for success in Airspace. So if there are any developers looking for a platform to program for, Leap Motion is a great start. (Go here for info on when the SDK is coming out.)

Screen Shot 2013-04-22 at 6.55.04 PM Overall, Leap Motion is pretty awesome. It will allow you to use you computer in ways you have never imagined. And for all this awesomeness, wouldn’t you expect it to cost a fortune? But it doesn’t. It only costs $79. Leap Motion is open for preorder, and on May 13, 2013, they will start shipping. I will be ordering one, so check back here for my review!

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