Hot on the heels of the Leap Motion Controller, which began shipping last week, Leap Motion has released the accompanying software. The software allows people to control their computers with natural movements, detecting both hand and finger movements. In addition, the company launched its Airspace store which includes apps specifically designed for use with the device.
The apps available on the Airspace Store are designed for the motion sensor technology. The store currently has more than 75 free and paid apps that cover a broad range of categories, from educational apps to (of course) plenty of games. More apps are expected and the collection should grow as more developers are brought on board.
You'll need a fairly modern Mac or PC for the Leap Motion Controller to work. It requires a Mac capable of running OS X 10.7 or higher, or a PC with an Intel Core i3, AMD Phenom II, 2 GB of RAM and Windows 7 or 8. Apparently it won't just be for desktops either. The computer maker ASUS is partnering with the company to embed the sensor in high-end laptops and All-in-One (AIO) systems.
This looks like some exciting technology, even if it is a version 1.0 product. The company co-founder claims the sensor can track movement in both hands and all fingers with up to 1/100th millimeter accuracy with no noticeable latency.
If you didn't pre-order, the device is available to purchase on the Leap Motion website for US$79.99. Beginning July 28th, the Leap Motion Controllers will be in Best Buy stores in the US and also available in the UK from Amazon.
A demo of the technology can be seen in the video below.
Source: Leap Motion