Cambridge debuts Suma 3D controller

Cambridge Consultants has introduced a prototype 3D controller based on “squeezable” user-interface technology. ?

According to company spokesperson Duncan Smith, the Suma sensor system operates by translating the three dimensional deformation of a squeezed object into a software-readable form.

“Enabling highly sensitive control by finger movements and whole-hand grip in this way means that Suma-based devices can capture far more of the degrees of freedom of the hand than conventional controller technologies, without the need for cumbersome gloves or sensors,” said Smith.

“Suma will enable companies developing a wide variety of products and applications – from gaming and design to music and creative arts – to unleash the full capabilities of both the human hand and the user’s imagination.”

Smith added that the current generation of input devices for computers and games did not “fully exploit” the true potential of the human hand. 

“Although gesture-based control is a huge step, even this does not convey the subtlety and flexibility of what our hands can do. By capturing that complexity, Suma enables product developers in a range of industries to greatly enhance the experience of their users, adding multidimensional interaction to both existing and new applications.

“Emerging trends like 3D displays and augmented reality are bound to stimulate interest in Suma’s unique capabilities, where the emergence of next generation applications is limited only by the lack of suitable input devices. But it’s also just as relevant and exciting for existing 2D applications and web-based services, where squeeze-to-click can now become squeeze-to-control.”

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