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GestureTek Unveils Electronics-free 'Wii-like' Control Wand at Toy and Game Shows

Posted : Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:03:12 GMT
Author : GestureTek Inc.
Category : Press Release
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SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 14  /PRNewswire/ -- GestureTek(R) Inc., pioneer and world-leader in vision-enabled gaming and entertainment systems, will exhibit groundbreaking new gesture-control technologies at the 2008 Toy Fair on February 17 to 20th in New York City (Booth 4866E) and at the 2008 Game Developers Conference on February 20th to 22nd in San Francisco (Booth 5322).
"For more than 20 years, GestureTek's innovative gesture-recognition solutions have been blazing trails in the field of computer-human interaction," said Vincent John Vincent, President and Co-Founder of GestureTek Inc. "Thousands of museums, science centers, amusement parks and retail stores feature GestureTek installations. With our patented body-tracking software embedded in millions of consoles, digital signs and cell phones, people worldwide have enjoyed the GestureTek virtual world experience."
GestureTek is expanding its licensing program for toy and game developers. Leading companies have already licensed GestureTek's patents and software for their motion-controlled gaming and entertainment systems, including Sony for the PlayStation EyeToy, Microsoft for the Xbox 360 Live Camera, Hasbro's PLAYSKOOL for the ION Educational Gaming System, and Japanese wireless operator NTT DoCoMo for gesture-controlled mobile games. Other mobile operators and handset manufacturers embedded with GestureTek technology include Verizon, Cellular South and Motorola. GestureTek's gesture-enabled games were also featured on Mobile Internet Devices based on the Intel Low Power Chip technology at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show.
The latest technology to be showcased by GestureTek at the 2008 Toy Fair and the Game Developers Conference is a prototype 'Wii-like' game stick. This device interfaces with gesture-controlled gaming and entertainment systems, and can be tracked in complete 3-D space by any camera-enabled device, such as a console, PC or set-top box, with no need for embedded electronics. The technology relies solely on camera analysis to track and position in 3-D space. More cost-effective than accelerometer-based solutions, the GestureTek game stick recognizes both minute and large movements, for an exciting, life-like virtual gaming experience. Since the technology is camera-based, players can see their real-time, full-body image onscreen as they control 3-D simulations and interact with onscreen characters and objects. Body motion controls the program, resulting in an exhilarating immersive virtual experience. GestureTek can even vision-equip dolls, stuffed animals or robots.
Other gaming and entertainment technologies developed by GestureTek include:

-- GestureXtreme(R), a gaming system that immerses users' images into exciting virtual worlds, with no special gear needed. Games include
sports, adventure and education simulations. mms://wme.gesturetek.com/gesturetek.com/gestxtreme/productvideos/gesture_extre me.wmv

-- FunCam(R), a portable gear-free virtual gaming system that can be set up anywhere, so it's great for malls, nightclubs and trade shows. http://www.gesturetek.com/gestxtreme/funcam.php -- EyeMobile(R), the world's first gaming engine for mobile devices. http://www.gesturetekmobile.com/ -- ScreenXtreme(R), an immersive solution that puts viewers into a digital sign and allows them to control the content. http://www.gesturetek.com/screenxtreme/introduction.php -- GestureFX(R), a system to display and control multi-media on a floor,
wall or tabletop. mms://wme.gesturetek.com/gesturetek.com/gesturefx/productvideos/gesturefx_syst em_series.wmv
GestureTek offers consulting services for game concepts and hardware design, along with software delivery and application development. The company also creates vision-enabled toys, from prototype to final design. All patents, technology, game engines and applications can be licensed and API's include full body analysis and motion tracking, as well as feature-specific tracking such as face, hand, color, motion and object tracking. The game engine design lets content be easily ported from one device or platform to another. See GestureTek's toy/game flyer http://www.gesturetek.com/pdfs/ToyShowFlyer.pdf and Product Video at http://www.gesturetek.com/

For more information contact: Patti Jordan, Director Mktg & Comm, GestureTek, 416-340-9290 x 274 patti.jordan@gesturetek.com About GestureTek Inc.
GestureTek is a pioneer in computer vision control, and the world-leader and patent-holder in gesture-recognition technologies for information, presentation and entertainment systems. The company's revolutionary video gesture control software lets users control interactive content, access information, manipulate special effects or immerse themselves in an interactive 3D virtual world -- simply by moving their hands or body. In the past 20 years, GestureTek has delivered nearly 4,000 interactive displays, kiosks, exhibits, games and other interactive solutions for museums, science centers, location-based entertainment facilities, retail stores, real estate presentation centers, corporate boardrooms and showrooms, television networks and game developers. The technology is also used by advertisers and marketers to make their digital signs and advertisements interactive and immersive. Healthcare organizations also use GestureTek's technology for virtual therapy. GestureTek clients include leading organizations and Fortune 500 companies such as CNN, Samsung, NASA, BMW, Ford, Oracle, Intel, IBM, Federal Express, Autodesk, Panasonic and more. GestureTek is headquartered in Silicon Valley, with offices in Toronto, Ottawa and Asia. Learn more at http://www.gesturetek.com/ or call (800) 315-1189.
GestureTek Inc.


Copyright © 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.




Article : GestureTek Unveils Electronics-free 'Wii-like' Control Wand at Toy and Game Shows
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