GestureTek Preparing 'Wii-like' Control Wand

Gaming technology company GestureTek has announced it will unveil a prototype of a "Wii-like" game stick that interfaces with entertainment systems for gesture-controlled gaming. The device can be tracked in 3D space by camera-enabled devices, such as game console, PC or set-top box, without requiring embedded electronics. The company says the technology relies only on camera analysis for tracking and positioning. According to GestureTek, players using the technology can see a realtime full-body image on the screen, controlling 3D simulations and interactions. The technology can also be used to equip dolls, stuffed animals and robots with "vision." GestureTek's patents and software for motion-controlled gaming have been licensed by companies 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. Gamasutra has previously talked with the company about its work on the Xbox 360 camera, and on its mobile phone work. The latter is known to be behind Namco's tilt-sensitive Katamari Damacy mobile phone game. GestureTek president and co-founder Vincent John Vincent commented, "For more than 20 years, GestureTek's innovative gesture-recognition solutions have been blazing trails in the field of computer-human interaction.Thousands of museums, science centers, amusement parks and retail stores feature GestureTek installations. With our patented body-tracking software embedded in millions of consoles, dital signs and cell phones, people worldwide have enjoyed the GestureTek virtual world experience."