<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Gigaom]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://gigaom.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Kevin C. Tofel]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[http://search.gigaom.com/author/kevintofel/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Watch this: Hands free phone gestures from 2 meters away]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>Back in October, we saw how <a href="https://gigaom.com/2014/10/06/elliptic-labs-hopes-that-with-ultrasound-waves-youll-never-touch-your-phone-again/">Elliptic Labs integrated ultrasound hardware and smart software to interact with phones and tablets though gestures</a>. At the time, the company said its technology worked from up to 50 centimeters away. Now, Elliptic Labs has boosted the range: <a href="http://www.ellipticlabs.com/?p=4818">You can wave at your phone from up to 2 meters away to make things happen</a>.</p>
<p>There aren&#8217;t many scenarios where you&#8217;d be up to six or seven feet from a phone and want to do something with it; after all, you really can&#8217;t see the small screen that well. But there is one specific, and highly popular activity that gesture tech can can help with: Photos. Elliptic Labs says its new 2 meter range is great for selfies and group photos.</p>
<div class="embed-vimeo"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/120857701" width="804" height="452" frameborder="0" title="Elliptic Labs Ultra-Fast Ultra-Far" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>While the tech is interesting, I&#8217;m not sure device makers will be sold on it: Many camera apps have timers to accomplish the same thing for a group shot and some already support gestures.</p>
<p>And that touches upon the other challenge Elliptic Labs faces: It relies on device makers to use the technology, so it has to continue showing how gesture interaction will help sell devices and benefit users.</p>
<p>I can think of another simple use case I&#8217;d love to see that could theoretically be done with gestures: Muting the microphone on a phone call. I often take hands-free calls for product briefings and I have the bad habit of walking around the room during the conversation. Sometimes, I need to mute that mic and it would be great if I could do that with a gesture. Elliptic Labs says its solution works within a 180-degree area, so it ought to be possible.</p>
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