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SideSwipe: UW Team Uses In-Air Gestures for Phones


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The SideSwipe system leverages an unmodified GSM signal to enable in-air hand gestures both above and on the side of the phone.

SideSwipe is a new system that enables in-air gestures above and around a mobile device to control the device.

Credit: Chen Zhao et al.

University of Washington in Seattle researchers have developed SideSwipe, a system that enables in-air gestures above and around a mobile device.

"We developed an algorithm to convert the bursty reflected GSM pulses to a continuous signal that can be used for gesture recognition," the researchers say in a paper describing a prototype device they designed.

SideSwipe includes a receiver with four antenna elements attached to the four edges of a printed circuit board (PCB). The antennas are separately connected to RF power detectors at the center of the PCB. The researchers were able to get different signal intensity fluctuations from distinct antennas when the user performs gestures because every antenna has a unique radiation pattern.

"In addition, we placed a ground plane on the back of the PCB to enhance the difference in radiation patterns of the antennas," the researchers say.

During testing, the researchers say SideSwipe recognized 14 gestures with 87.2-percent accuracy.

"Our system can be beneficial when user receives phone call in a non-appropriate situation," the researchers note. "Instead of taking the phone out of her pocket, she can just use hand gesture to respond to the incoming call."

From Phys.Org
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Abstracts Copyright © 2014 Information Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA


 

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