University scientists brings Gmail gag to life [video]

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There is quite a bit of Internet showmanship that takes place every year on April 1st. Tech companies and blogs — present company excluded — try and swindle users and readers into believing, if only for a moment, that a new, slightly outlandish product or feature is on the way. Google is a frequent offender on April Fool’s Day, and last week the company’s homepage was waxing poetic about its Google Motion service. The faux feature was said to allow users to control Gmail using their computer’s built-in camera and body movements. One week later, University of Southern California scientists, aided by a Microsoft Kinect, have turned the prank into a reality. Leveraging movement tracking software already in the works, the school’s Institute for Creative Technologies demonstrates in a video exactly how Google Motion could work. It’s humorous, interesting, and funny, all at the same time. The video is awaiting your scrutiny after the break.

[Via Business Insider]

5 Comments
  • Anonymous

    go usc! fight on!

  • http://www.techno-update.com techno-update

    That’s funny and cool at the same time.

    • Bitson

      yeh its Fool! No wait…

  • AlaskaHome1959

    Opera (it’s a browser, folks) did this gag years ago using facial gestures. You’d think Google could have thought of a better gag instead of going back **3 YEARS** to steal someone else’s idea.

    • Canuckinnh

      Nobody has accused Google of being terribly creative or original. Google just buys up all the good ideas through company acquisition.

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