Hillcrest Labs’ Freespace division has released two new products designed to help developers create applications and products that incorporate Freespace in-air pointing and motion control technology.
The two new Freespace products released are the libfreespace open source library and the Freespace Reference Kit Version 3.1. Together, they provide all the hardware and software required to incorporate motion control. Freespace technology is also used in Hillcrest’s Loop pointer, an in-air mouse designed for consumers who connect a PC or Mac to the TV.
Hillcrest said that libfreespace is an open source library that enables development of software applications for use with a range of Freespace devices. Motion control can be added to product categories beyond TV remote controls, game controllers and PC accessories, including: wireless presenters, smartphones, and virtual reality systems.
According to Hillcrest, the new library supports the Linux, Mac OS X, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.0 operating systems. Freespace devices interface to these operating systems as a Human Interface Device (HID) using mouse, keyboard, consumer page or vendor specific messages.
In addition, the control functions for Freespace devices include: device discovery and connection; device configuration and firmware update; and host LED control.
The company said that Freespace Reference Kit (FSRK) version 3.1 allows customers to evaluate the technology for use in devices that require in-air pointing or motion control. The FSRK gives product designers and software developers all the components, tools and documentation needed to create motion control devices.
The FSRK version 3.1 features include: inertial pointing algorithms providing adaptive tremor removal, and orientation compensation; inertial motion control for in-air pointing, gestures, and 3D motion tracking applications; and customise button configurations, LED behaviour, and wake-on-motion behaviour for use in a variety of applications.
In addition, the Freespace toolkit contains software tools to visualise 3D motion, log motion data, recognise gestures, conduct usability studies, upgrade firmware, and create custom device configurations.
The company said that the new FSRK includes the Freespace Sensor Module (FSM), the Freespace Remote Control Module (FRCM), the Hillcrest USB RF transceiver (RFT) and the Freespace Toolkit. The FRCM and RFT can be used together with libfreespace to create new applications.
