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 What is Leap Motion?  The Leap is a flash-drive sized USB peripheral that generates a 3D interaction field. It will detect your hands and fingers (among other objects) with a higher degree of accuracy and responsiveness than anything else that currently exists on the consumer market. How does it work?  The Leaps main components are 3 infrared LEDs and 2 CCD cameras.  Leap Developer Kit Unit On the most basic level, the Leap works by detecting the position of objects via reflected IR light. Due to pending patents they haven’t released any specifics but the creators and have stated that the real innovation lies in how they’re processing the data the device generates. Its specific method of operation has been a prime topic of discussion on their official forums and elsewhere. I’ve seen a comment by one of the developers that in reality their processing technique only requires one camera and the other camera is for error correction and to help deal with the issue of one hand blocking the other (occlusion--the device cannot see through objects that block IR light). The developers have stated that it does not output point-cloud data despite some images in the promotion video suggesting otherwise. Nor does it generate depth maps like Kinect.  Synthesized "point-cloud" visualization What are its capabilities? The developers have stated that it will detect motion as small as 0.01 mm. It remains to be demonstrated through any quantitative test whether the device is actually capable of this and whether sensitivity that high is functionally usable for any purpose. Aside from that issue, it is very sensitive. Pay attention in demonstration videos where one of the developers cleanly and accurately writes words in a 1 cm square with the tip of a chopstick. There hasn’t been a reliable definition of the devices FOV. You can get an idea of the area it detects by watching some of the promo/demo videos although it’s also been stated that the full production devices will be superior in functionality as compared to the developer kits. The developers have stated no maximum range that it will detect; only stating that it begins to lose accuracy as you move farther away from the device. I haven’t seen any dev kit videos where someone attempts to test its maximum range although it’s commonly stated this range is approximately 1 m. It has been confirmed multiple times that you will be able to use multiple leap units in parallel to increase the detection area. The Leap can supposedly be used in any orientation as long as it can see the object to be detected, although I have yet to see a video where the leap is oriented in a position other than on a desk facing upwards. What kind of software will there be? Out of the box they have stated that the Leap will be capable of interacting with Windows and Mac computers. They are working on a Linux implementation. Through the driver software the Leap will emulate a touch screen which means it should be functional on a basic level with all existing touch-compatible software. Deeper integration will have to be created by software developers. They plan to have an entire software ecosystem with their own app store. To encourage this, they have sent out over 10,000 dev kits to applicants. If you keep an eye on Twitter/YouTube/Vimeo you’ll find new videos of work that some of these developers are doing. The Leap SDK will be made publicly available when the device ships. How much does it cost and when can I get it? The Leap costs $70 and is currently available for pre-order on their website. They haven’t set a firm release date, only stated that it is shipping in late first quarter. They have a planned speaking arrangement “The Disappearance of the User Interface” at SXSW 2013 on March 9th. My prediction is they will announce the full public availability of the device at this event. Sounds cool but let me see some videos! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d6KuiuteIA This is the official promotional video for the leap motion originally released. It has over seven million views, this is the one you may have seen before. Leap media demonstration @ The Verge This is one of many demonstration videos to the media. Mostly consists of live demos of concepts featured in the official promo video. Developer Videos IMO, these are some of the coolest videos that developers have been creating so far... with so many dev kits out there, there's more everyday: AirHarp - A virtual stringed instrument Block 54 - A Jenga-esque game created by Leap Motion (now included in SDK as an example app). Leap and Labview controlled Quadrotor - Controlling the motion of a quadrotor by tilting your hands Leap as a musical instrument - A cool virtual instrument vid, cant describe it better than that Leap + Multitouch Screens - Leap Motion emulating the capabilities of traditional multi-touch enabled screens Leap being used to make a regular LCD act like a touch screen - Again, more sweet touch screen emulation (warning: inappropriate music) Links Leap Motion Official Site Leap Motion Official Forums Leap Forums Video Database Thread Leap Motion Unofficial FAQ Leap Motion YouTube Channel Trisk fucked around with this message at Jan 3, 2013 around 21:57 |
| # ? Jan 3, 2013 02:36 |
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| # ? May 21, 2013 16:27 |
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What do you guys think about it? I’m extremely excited about the possibilities that this device has. When you see the accuracy/responsiveness that it has you can start imagining hundreds of different applications. As much as I’m excited about this device “killing the mouse” I have some reservations about its usability for long periods of time due to arm fatigue although you should be capable of resting your forearm on the table and still gesture with your hand and fingers. Additionally, because of the high accuracy you can set the sensitivity very high so you can span your entire screen by moving your finger only a small distance (see Fruit Ninja demos) versus traditional touch screens where you would to move your finger the entire distance of the screen. As FPS games are my favorite I’m very interested to see if someone is capable of playing at a similar skill level to a regular mouse. I have some doubts about this but damned if I won’t give it a try as soon as I get my Leap. So, let’s talk about the Leap!
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| # ? Jan 3, 2013 02:37 |
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What are some of the applications that might be relevant to the layperson? I can see this being useful for anyone in design, or maybe for 3d scanning, or to supplement something like the Oculus Rift, but I'm having trouble seeing it coming in handy for the guy sitting at home on his couch with his laptop in front of him making a post on the Something Awful Forums.
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| # ? Jan 3, 2013 07:14 |
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brizna posted:What are some of the applications that might be relevant to the layperson? I can see this being useful for anyone in design, or maybe for 3d scanning, or to supplement something like the Oculus Rift, but I'm having trouble seeing it coming in handy for the guy sitting at home on his couch with his laptop in front of him making a post on the Something Awful Forums. Well, laptop on the couch? Maybe not. I don't know if any mobile devices will be able to utilize the leap to its real potential until devices start shipping with leap sensors embedded (something they are supposedly working on). I could see gaming/web browsing on a HTPC hooked up to a TV/projector. Anywhere where you might want to have the accuracy of a mouse but where it's not convenient to use one. I can visualize sitting on a couch with a keyboard in your lap and "mousing" with the Leap. Now I don't know exactly where you're plugged into with the Leap in this scenario since you're tethered via USB but the potential is there I think.
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| # ? Jan 3, 2013 07:30 |
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http://theverge.com/2013/1/3/383039...on-asus-pc-deal Wow, Leap just announced a deal to bundle the device with new ASUS computers. Also announced $30 million in new funding. They're moving faster with OEMs than I expected.
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| # ? Jan 3, 2013 18:47 |
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Just put in my preorder for this when I saw the thread pop up. Trying to take this, the Muse headband, and a bone-conducting mic + Dragon Naturally Speaking to build a mechanically free interface.
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| # ? Jan 3, 2013 21:26 |
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Got approved for a dev kit last week, still no word on whether it's shipped or not. The current state of apps is promising in some ways, I just hope they can keep the crapware to a minimum. Lots of the ideas out there are really disastrous and filled with bad coder taste, but there is some really cool stuff underway as well.
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| # ? Jan 3, 2013 22:50 |
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snorch posted:Got approved for a dev kit last week, still no word on whether it's shipped or not. The current state of apps is promising in some ways, I just hope they can keep the crapware to a minimum. Lots of the ideas out there are really disastrous and filled with bad coder taste, but there is some really cool stuff underway as well. Nice! I figured we had to have a few cool goons who were getting in on the dev program. Wanna leak something cool from the dev forums?  (Is there actually an NDA?)
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| # ? Jan 4, 2013 02:17 |
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Apparently I pre-ordered back in May and have yet to hear a peep from them. Just sent an email since I can't login to their system, maybe I can convince them to bump me to dev?
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| # ? Jan 4, 2013 06:01 |
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Trisk posted:Nice! I figured we had to have a few cool goons who were getting in on the dev program. Wanna leak something cool from the dev forums? Reading through the developer agreement, the only thing resembling an NDA is the fact that they want to limit distribution of the SDK to approved developers and their teams. Most of the early projects and concepts are already on Youtube or similar. I don't know if non-developers can view this, but here's a comprehensive list: https://forums.leapmotion.com/showt...-Video-Database
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| # ? Jan 4, 2013 10:48 |
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snorch posted:Reading through the developer agreement, the only thing resembling an NDA is the fact that they want to limit distribution of the SDK to approved developers and their teams. Most of the early projects and concepts are already on Youtube or similar. I don't know if non-developers can view this, but here's a comprehensive list: https://forums.leapmotion.com/showt...-Video-Database The video thread is linked in my magnificent OP. 
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| # ? Jan 4, 2013 15:27 |
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Whoops. Guess that's what happens when you skim stuff too fast.
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| # ? Jan 4, 2013 15:30 |
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https://forums.leapmotion.com/showt...w-Interface-You CNET Panel “The Next Interface: You” involving Leap Motion 3 PM on Wednesday, Jan. 9 @ CES 2013.
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| # ? Jan 8, 2013 05:30 |
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Snorch, do you get the impression that a lot of people with Dev kits are not showing what they're working on because they're planning on releasing it as a paid app and they don't want anyone stealing their idea?
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| # ? Jan 8, 2013 22:22 |
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CES Videos!! CNET Panel -- The Next Inferface: You - The previously mentioned panel involving Leap Motion. Surprisingly long but not completely terrible. Have to suffer through Fitbit and thermostat guy talking though. Felicia Day at the CES Leap booth - Nothing spectacular but you get a pretty close up view of the leap in the commercial housing. I have read that the body is in fact aluminum! Also Felicia Day is wonderful.  plz post about leap motion and not make me feel like this thread is such a failure!!
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| # ? Jan 11, 2013 02:56 |
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Trisk posted:CES Videos!! I really want to post about it but I know next to nothing about it other than that I'm pumped for it, but have to wait for the preorders to ship because I'm not uber enough to get a dev kit. But I have plans. Oh, so many plans.
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| # ? Jan 11, 2013 04:29 |
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Would this work with Windows 8 to make a touch table out of my desk? If it does I'm gonna buy one and Windows 8 just to feel the future
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| # ? Jan 11, 2013 12:23 |
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I'm excited about this thing's potential too, but I'm not generally an early adopter. I really hope it works as advertised and catches on, because I can see it supplanting my two least favorite user interfaces: the trackpad and the touchscreen.
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| # ? Jan 11, 2013 15:18 |
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Selklubber posted:Would this work with Windows 8 to make a touch table out of my desk? If it does I'm gonna buy one and Windows 8 just to feel the future It will work straight out of the box with Windows 8 by emulating a touch screen. Not sure what you mean by touch table but people have talked about mounting the leap on a stand facing down at their desk or if their table is made of glass, having it underneath transmitting through the surface. see this video for example of a leap working through an IR transparent surface Trisk fucked around with this message at Jan 11, 2013 around 15:56 |
| # ? Jan 11, 2013 15:42 |
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Yeah, I mean instead of the touch "zone" being on the screen and holding your arms up, you can have it the table and use your hand as a mouse, without the mouse. I think that would be great.
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| # ? Jan 11, 2013 15:53 |
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BBC Interview with Leap at CES - AFAIK first showing of "clay molding" app--molding a piece of clay on a virtual wheel. Also first time I've heard a rep actually describe anything specific about the workings although they didn't say anything we didn't already know.
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| # ? Jan 12, 2013 08:28 |
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I pre-ordered this back in May. It's good to see that they've got it in the commercial housing, before that BBC video, the only working units I saw were bare curcuitboard 
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| # ? Jan 14, 2013 21:22 |
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Kazy posted:I pre-ordered this back in May. It's good to see that they've got it in the commercial housing, before that BBC video, the only working units I saw were bare curcuitboard Yeah, those are the dev kits. The full scale production models are pretty much the same but supposedly miniaturized and in the attractive casing with the dark filter over the components. Here's a post where David Holz (one of the co-founders, typically the guy seen in demonstration videos) describes the different versions in the wild: David Holz posted:If it is before release, you may get any one of the 4 types of dev units we are currently sending out. One is the big one currently seen in many videos, the second one is very small but not quite as small as the final unit. The the third one was from a very early run of the final manufacturing line, and the fourth type is a sample from the final mass production run. Some other interesting posts he's made about latency and USB 2.0/3.0: David Holz posted:The Leap has been designed to operate exceptionally within the constraints of a USB 2.0 connection. David Holz posted:The different modes are mostly there for personal preference and freedom of choice.
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| # ? Jan 15, 2013 02:28 |
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Figured this deserves a bump with the news that it'll be sold through Best Buy as a retail channel with preorders for BB starting in feb. They also mentioned previous pre orders through them will ship end of Q1...hoping that's march. So jazzed for this. Turn my 30" u3011 into a touchless touchscreen? yes please.
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| # ? Jan 16, 2013 22:50 |
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zer0spunk posted:Figured this deserves a bump with the news that it'll be sold through Best Buy as a retail channel with preorders for BB starting in feb. They also mentioned previous pre orders through them will ship end of Q1...hoping that's march. Buy a fanless mini-itx computer with Solid State Drive. Use WiFi adapter to connect to local networks/wireless hotspot. Buy display goggles. Mount Leap Motion on nearby table/wall/carrying rig. Live in William Gibson's cyberpunk future.
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| # ? Jan 16, 2013 23:00 |
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zer0spunk posted:Figured this deserves a bump with the news that it'll be sold through Best Buy as a retail channel with preorders for BB starting in feb. They also mentioned previous pre orders through them will ship end of Q1...hoping that's march. Here's to hoping I'll get my Leap before they start selling in BB.. If random people in BB get them first, that'd be seriously lovely.
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| # ? Jan 17, 2013 00:38 |
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Kazy posted:Here's to hoping I'll get my Leap before they start selling in BB.. If random people in BB get them first, that'd be seriously lovely. Good, you guys beat me to the punch about the BB deal. I'm gonna guess they wouldn't screw over their early adopter pre-order folks like that but you never know. What I'm curious is if the retail price jumps into the $80-100 range or it will always be straight $70. Aside from that, the idea that you'll be able to walk into a BB and play Fruit Ninja/Angry Birds/Block 54 (maybe) with the Leap in the near future is kind of cool. Should generate a lot of impulse buys I'm imagining.
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| # ? Jan 17, 2013 06:10 |
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Post from official forums about the BB deal:Michael Buckwald posted:Thanks for the great feedback. Our main reason for working with Best Buy is that as part of this deal they are investing heavily in in-store displays where people will be able to go and physically experience Leap. We think that is going to be really essential and will open Leap up to a broader universe of people.
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| # ? Jan 18, 2013 02:43 |
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Some recent cool stuff: Bowling with Leap Leap Motion and Unity3D Pro Integration Prototype game with Leap Interesting DavidH post in relation to a video where somebody was experiencing anomalous finger detection due to halogen lighting. Wonder how much of an issue ambient lighting will be after launch? David Holz posted:There is a software bug out in the wild right now that when combined with a specific model dev unit is causing some anomalous behavior in certain types of lighting conditions. This should be patched shortly. EDIT: Another one: Exoplanet App Trisk fucked around with this message at Jan 22, 2013 around 06:19 |
| # ? Jan 22, 2013 04:07 |
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Handful of cool new vids: Leap Motion Augmented Reality Demo Marble Madness Style Game Demo Prototype ASL Recognition
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| # ? Jan 25, 2013 03:43 |
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I really hope this works out, seems more useful than getting a larger drawing tablet.
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| # ? Jan 26, 2013 18:02 |
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This could be used for a lot of other applications besides UI. It would make an awesome 3D scanner for small objects. Depending on the field of view and max range it can detect out to, it could be really awesome for things like robots.
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| # ? Feb 3, 2013 15:18 |
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Dev kit arrived last week. I won't go into the details since the SDK is "confidential", but I spent about an hour fiddling around, and if they manage to work out the kinks (and they are making rapid progress on that) this poo poo will hit the market being the real deal. I definitely dig their style of releasing to devs en masse, as it serves the double purpose of being a sort of beta test and ensuring the coolest apps are already there when the units hit the shelves.
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| # ? Feb 4, 2013 16:06 |
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snorch posted:Dev kit arrived last week. I won't go into the details since the SDK is "confidential", but I spent about an hour fiddling around, and if they manage to work out the kinks (and they are making rapid progress on that) this poo poo will hit the market being the real deal. I definitely dig their style of releasing to devs en masse, as it serves the double purpose of being a sort of beta test and ensuring the coolest apps are already there when the units hit the shelves. If you don't want to say anything that's fine but could you go into some detail on the different "accuracy" settings (are these even available in the current software versions)? Have you found that lighting environments are actually affecting the accuracy/responsiveness?
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| # ? Feb 5, 2013 04:17 |
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My Rhythmic Crotch posted:This could be used for a lot of other applications besides UI. It would make an awesome 3D scanner for small objects. Jackard fucked around with this message at Feb 5, 2013 around 06:08 |
| # ? Feb 5, 2013 06:00 |
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Jackard posted:The video shows people using pencils as a stylus. Can the Leap recognize other objects in this way? My understanding is that the SDK currently only identifies "pointables" i.e. your fingers, pens, chopsticks, other vaguely cylindrical objects. Many people seem to think it will be able to be used as a scanner but will require 3rd party coding.
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| # ? Feb 5, 2013 06:18 |
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Trisk posted:If you don't want to say anything that's fine but could you go into some detail on the different "accuracy" settings (are these even available in the current software versions)? Have you found that lighting environments are actually affecting the accuracy/responsiveness? Lighting definitely affects the accuracy. Ideally you would use it in a dark room, but there is a "robust" mode for dealing with bright ambient lighting. There is also a low resource mode, but honestly I can't notice much of a difference there in terms of accuracy.
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| # ? Feb 7, 2013 10:01 |
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snorch posted:Lighting definitely affects the accuracy. Ideally you would use it in a dark room, but there is a "robust" mode for dealing with bright ambient lighting. There is also a low resource mode, but honestly I can't notice much of a difference there in terms of accuracy. What about CPU usage? I keep seeing a handful of posts from people saying they are seeing really high CPU usage when running the Leap.
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| # ? Feb 8, 2013 04:02 |
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Pre-order ship date getting announced next week!
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| # ? Feb 21, 2013 07:31 |
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| # ? May 21, 2013 16:27 |
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 Leap Motion ship date is May 13 for pre-orders, available in Best Buy May 19! Google+ posted:We know you've been waiting to hear when you'll get your Leap Motion Controller, and today we are proud to announce: we will begin shipping all global pre-orders on May 13, 2013. We're still accepting pre-orders at http://www.leapmotion.com and you won't be charged until we ship. We'll also launch in Best Buy retail stores across the U.S. on May 19. Kinda disappointed by having to wait two more months but at least we have a date for this thing.
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| # ? Feb 28, 2013 03:40 |
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