{"id":7399,"date":"2012-05-24T15:20:56","date_gmt":"2012-05-24T19:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=7399"},"modified":"2012-05-24T17:29:30","modified_gmt":"2012-05-24T21:29:30","slug":"leap-gesture-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/leap-gesture-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Could LEAP Change The Way We Edit Images and Videos?"},"content":{"rendered":"

LEAP is a revolutionary gesture based input device that may have the potential to change how you work with video editing and photography software.<\/h2>\n

\"Minority<\/p>\n

Earlier this week the ‘net was abuzz with the announcement of Leap<\/strong>, a new gesture-controlled computer input device that is manipulated by hand motion. \u00a0Similar to the technology built into the Microsoft Kinect (but reportedly 200 times more precise), the Leap<\/strong> compact infrared device sits in front of your computer and allows you to control on-screen action using your hands, fingers or a pen\/pencil. \u00a0We’re talking about Minority Report style control here.<\/p>\n

Wired sat down with the Leap gesture-control system<\/strong><\/a> and confirmed just how fast and accurate it is.<\/p>\n

The Leap Sensor<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"LEAP<\/p>\n

Recently, we profiled a video editor that turned his Apple trackpad into a gesture-based input system<\/a> for editing in Final Cut Pro X<\/strong> – to impressive effect. \u00a0What if the Leap could expand on this idea of gesture-based video editing?<\/p>\n

Efficient video editing<\/strong>\u00a0is reliant\u00a0on using\u00a0keyboard shortcuts<\/strong>\u00a0(try to find one pro<\/strong> editor that’s NOT using them). \u00a0Therefore, it’s unlikely that the keyboard will be totally replaced by the new Leap technology <\/strong>anytime soon. \u00a0But, it’s entirely possible that the LEAP may be a useful secondary input<\/strong> for certain stages of the editing process. \u00a0Imagine how fast it would be to drag clips down to a timeline…quickly rearrange and assemble them to make a rough cut sequence.<\/p>\n

For photographers<\/strong>, the LEAP<\/strong> may be able to take on editing tasks that are currently done with a Wacom tablet<\/a>\u00a0or mouse. \u00a0You’d be able to quickly zoom into an image and retouch it. \u00a0Using your hand, you could trace the area of an image that needs an adjustment. \u00a0The LEAP could really speed up your time in Photoshop<\/strong>, as you digitally\u00a0finger-paint\u00a0your image corrections.<\/p>\n

Leap Motion<\/a>, the company behind the device, will soon be making a software development kit (SDK) available\u00a0that will allow developers to create new LEAP focused apps or offer support with their current applications. \u00a0The big questions is, will they<\/strong>? \u00a0Will enough users be interested in LEAP that Adobe, Apple, Avid<\/strong>, etc are encouraged to make it available\u00a0for use with their applications? \u00a0If it’s really a game-changer, will one of the big tech companies buy up LEAP and offer exclusive support? \u00a0It remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

When it’s released for public sale later this year (at a low $70 price point<\/a>) LEAP could really shake up the way we traditionally interact with our applications. \u00a0It’s potential in the video and image editing space could be a game-changer. \u00a0Keeping fingers crossed that users and developers feel the same.<\/p>\n