Motion tracking interfaces
With the introduction of motion tracking The part of a computer program with which the user can interact. in the gaming community through releases such as the Nintendo Wii in 2006, Ubisoft motion tracking camera in 2009 and xBox Kinect in 2010, the benefits of interacting with a computer program by using concepts and gestures we are familiar with is clear. The launch of Sky Glass in 2021 has now brought this technology to streaming on Smart TVs. Very little, if any, training is required to interact with these software systems.
Developments in virtual reality (VR), with technologies such as Oculus Rift, Gear VR, Playstation VR, Daydream etc., are bringing motion tracking interfaces into mainstream computing.
Virtual reality applications are programs that transports the user to a simulated, three-dimensional world of sight, touch and movement. Here, the user can interact in a virtual world.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Enables user to explore realistic worlds, from virtual field trips to computer games. | Hardware (headset, cameras, motion controllers) are expensive and software is limited at the moment, due to the complexity of creating virtual worlds. |
| Users can interact with artificial environments in a safe and controlled setting, from virtual heart surgery to flight simulation. | Movement is still restricted in virtual worlds unlike our own. VR is restricted to a small area or room. |
| Can help you save on cost. Training resources can be limited or expensive. Using virtual reality gives a wider variety of training resources as and when required. | Training in a VR world using motion tracking does not have the same accuracy as training in the real world. |
| Advantages | Enables user to explore realistic worlds, from virtual field trips to computer games. |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Hardware (headset, cameras, motion controllers) are expensive and software is limited at the moment, due to the complexity of creating virtual worlds. |
| Advantages | Users can interact with artificial environments in a safe and controlled setting, from virtual heart surgery to flight simulation. |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Movement is still restricted in virtual worlds unlike our own. VR is restricted to a small area or room. |
| Advantages | Can help you save on cost. Training resources can be limited or expensive. Using virtual reality gives a wider variety of training resources as and when required. |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Training in a VR world using motion tracking does not have the same accuracy as training in the real world. |