Oslo spin-out Elliptic Labs partners with Edinburgh-based Wolfson Microelectronics on gesture-based electronics.
Elliptic Labs, a spin-out from Oslo University, has announced a partnership with Wolfson Labs to produce a gesture-based controller for consumer electronics.
The device will incorporate Elliptic’s ultrasonic gesture control with Wolfson’s audio-digital signal processor, with the end result being a low-power ‘always-on’ touch-free gesture control system. The device could be installed in smartphones, tablets, entertainment systems, and cars.
A half-way house between echolocation and Microsoft’s Kinect system, Elliptic’s device uses sound to interpret hand movements with a 180-degree field of view from the device.
Laila Danielsen, chief exectuive of Elliptic Labs, said: “Integrating Elliptic Labs’ ultrasonic touchless gesturing solution with Wolfson’s ADSP platform gives device manufacturers a way to offer the advantages of touchless gesturing to consumers while ensuring extremely low power consumption. Today, OEMs are keen to enable mobile devices to be ‘always on and always looking’ for hand gestures while consuming minimal power, and working alongside low power voice control. Our combined technology can ensure this becomes a reality for the market.”
The announcement comes shortly after Wolfson said that it would cut 10% of its workforce following a slowing of sales and a reported underlying operating loss of £1.85m compared to £2.1m profit last year.
