Lenovo’s new smart TVs are using Freespace in-air pointing...
Lenovo’s new smart TVs are using Freespace in-air pointing and motion control software from Hillcrest Labs, Hillcrest said Tuesday. Freespace enables point-and-click, gesture and motion control of smart TVs using simple in-air movements of a remote control, it said. Lenovo’s…
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Freespace-enabled smart TVs include the S9 announced last week for sale in China, said Hillcrest. Lenovo first tested smart TVs in China in 2012, but without the Hillcrest technology. Lenovo hasn’t announced any plans to field its smart TVs in the U.S. Lenovo is the fifth major smart TV platform to use Hillcrest’s technology, following Hisense, LG, Roku and TCL, said Hillcrest. The deal with Lenovo also “builds on Hillcrest’s previous traction” in Asia, most recently with Oppo’s use of Freespace in mobile devices, said Hillcrest. Hillcrest also opened a new regional office in Taiwan to address growing demand in the region for Freespace in smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, wearable electronics and other devices, it said. Hillcrest’s technology is being used in wearable computing platforms including Kopin’s Golden-i head-mounted display and is also licensed by companies including Atmel, Intel, Logitech, SMK Electronics, Sony and Universal Electronics, said Hillcrest. Freespace will “form the foundation” of Lenovo’s smart TV user experience and enables improved content navigation, better gaming options and simple Web browsing, said Hillcrest. The technology’s easy-to-use point-and-click controls and 3D motion tracking that is “optimized” for consumers in the living room environment is “particularly important” for Android-based TVs because Hillcrest’s technology “replicates the touch and tilt based controls commonly used” by Android apps on other devices, said Hillcrest.