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After computers it is time for the TV mouse
MUMBAI: The mouse is about to make a giant leap from computers to Australian television.
A team of Australian experts is developing what it says is the world’s first interactive mouse for television.
A revolutionary technology is being developed by a team of Australian researchers that will change the way people watch and use TV.
Simple hand gestures will replace button-pushing and frustratingly complicated remotes as the era of fully-interactive TV arrives. A team in the Australasian CRC for Interaction Design (ACID) led by Professor Duane Varan has developed what may be the world’s first television ‘mouse’, a clip-on device that enables the user to give commands to their TV with gestures.
Profesor Varan explains, “Once upon a time you had to type commands laboriously into your computer as hard text codes to get it to do anything – then along came the mouse, which greatly simplified and extended what you could do.
“As television becomes more and more interactive, viewers want to have greater control over what we see and do with it. We want the ability to give it commands in straightforward ways, such as with voice or gestures.”
ACID’s prototype gesture recognition device clips on the hand. It has accelerometers which measure the movement and orientation of the user’s hand in various directions, and a thumb-button to lock in the command.
In time, Prof. Varan predicts, it will replace all those fiddly little remote buttons and arrow keys for record, stop, fast forward, menu and so on, with a series of gestures that are intuitive – like a hand up for stop, or palm-up for fast forward.
“In fact, we think we can go way beyond existing remote controls with a device like this,” he adds.
The team is currently fine-tuning the prototype device so it can recognise a wide variation in people’s gestures – speed, extent and things like left-handedness. Unlike a mouse, Professor Varan believes that the gesture recognition device will accommodate natural gestures by the user without risking RSI or strain injury.
Just as the mouse replaced keystrokes with clicks to revolutionise computer interactivity, he believes the gesture recognition device will transform television from the today’s passive format into something more tunable to the viewer’s needs and wishes.
“TV will contain far more interactive content. If you see something interesting and want more information on it, you’ll be able to ask for it as you view. If you want to watch something again, you’ll be able to stop the show, go back and review, then keep on watching without missing anything.
“You’ll be able to change the narrative stream so that stories end differently, to suit yourself. You’ll be able to edit out the boring bits and take control over your viewing experience, if you want. You’ll be able to tell your TV to accumulate your favourite content and automatically record it so you can watch any time. If you want to fast forward, you’ll be able to go right to the end of a programme.
“In other words viewers will be able to manipulate their TV experience quite radically, and please themselves far more about what and how they watch.”
The key to all this, Professor Varan says, is having a command device that is simple, robust and versatile – and which anyone can use without having to read a long book of instructions.
The project is part of a larger suite of programs within ACID which are “exploring better ways and technologies for people to interact with and understand how people learn, work and play” explains ACID chief executive officer Professor Jeff Jones.
“We accept that consumers are increasingly discerning and that a technology-centric approach is no longer acceptable for entertainment or business markets which demand intuitive, easy-to-use devices.”
ACID conducts research and development work for creative industries in Australasia. ACID is an incorporated company as well as a funded entity through the Australian Government’s CRC Programme.
Founded in 2003, ACID has formed strategic alliances with over 20 educational and corporate partners throughout Australasia.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
