Turning any object into a remote control

A webcam-based technology promises to enable device control using any handy object, from a cup of tea to an obliging pet. Developed by computer scientists at Lancaster University, the technique — named “Matchpoint” by its developers — works by creating a temporary link between movement detected by the visual system with the function of any device with a screen.

Gesture control has been achieved with televisions and other devices before, but systems generally need to be ‘trained’ to recognise a specific body part, or users must learn a defined series of movements to achieve their desired result. Matchpoint avoids both of these situations by looking for a rotating motion within the webcam’s fields of view.

Matchpoint displays a series of moving targets that orbit a widget in the corner of the screen. These targets correspond to functions, such as adjusting the volume, changing channel, or displaying a menu. The users synchronises the direction of movement of one of the graphical targets with a movement of their head, hand or a real-world object, and this creates what the researchers call “spontaneous spatial coupling” between the body part or object and the device’s operating system. If they select volume or channel selection, a slider appears on the screen, and the user makes a linear motion in the appropriate direction to achieve their desired effect.