Game control system with ultrasonic gestures: the MLI Technology

MLI, otherwise known as multi-layer interaction, is expected to be a feature of smartphones by the first half of 2015. MLI works by allowing sensors in the phone to pick up ultrasonic vibrations, i.e., the phone will pick up a persons hand or finger gesture, before it actually touches the screen physically. Such control can be used to open up apps and use them, for example:

Calendar
E-Mails
Text
Games

Elliptic Labs was the first company to introduce the MLI technology in October 2014. Gestures can be picked up from 50 cm away and 180 degrees around the phone. The new MLI technology is thought to make interaction with technology easier and faster. However, it has been critizised by some as being unnecessary and an expensive waste of time. The question ‘how far will technology go?’ has also been asked.

MLI and Gaming

Possibly one of the main areas MLI technology will have a big impact on is gaming. It could mean that game apps with the technology may have more accurate controls which are easier to use. Using gestures to play games could also be more fun and exciting. However, on the contrary, the MLI technology would most likely cause problems and glitches when gaming at first. In addition MLI technology may be deemed more confusing and seen as unnecessary for some users. As well as this, using gestures to interact with a phone could be seen as strange. If a person was spotted walking down the street tapping in mid air at their phone it would be a rather unusual sight. To add to this point, gesturing to a piece of technology could also be viewed as moving another step towards technology taking over. As a human race we already rely on technology for simple tasks such as waking us up in the morning, communicating with people and reminding us of dinner reservations.

Having said that, MLI is definitely an innovative and exciting piece of technology, which will no doubt be snapped up by the leading smart phone brands such as Apple and Samsung. It is likely that the next versions of these phones in 2015 will include MLI technology.