Making dreams a virtual reality
Gesturefx for healthcare Brings Smiles to children in the Cardiac Unit
TORONTO -ONTARIO - April 30, 2007 - Gesturetek Health™, a division of Gesturetek Inc. announced today the launch of its latest GestureFx for Healthcare system in The Mitchell Goldhar Cardiac Diagnostic & Interventional Unit in The Labatt Family Heart Centre at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Ontario.
GestureFx uses GestureTek's patented video gesture control technology to create an interactive virtual world on any display surface; be it a projection on a floor, wall, tabletop, or onto a plasma screen. At SickKids, it is configured on the floor of the waiting room and reception area in The Mitchell Goldhar Cardiac Diagnostic & Interventional Unit, and is referred to as a GroundFx unit. Reflecting the outer space theme adopted by the hospital, the GroundFx system uses interactive special effects that allow patients to interact with the projected images on the floor in real-time. Images of a virtual solar system, exploding asteroid belt and meteor storms appear interchangeably.
"We have hundreds of our GestureFx systems in public locations all around the world. We are excited to be a part of the launch of this wonderful new facility and have the opportunity to use our technology in the hospital environment, to provide enjoyment to the many children who will visit." noted Vince Vincent, President of GestureTek Inc.
GestureTek's GestureFX content can be simple or complex: from an easy transition of one image to another, to sophisticated multi-layered animations moving and manipulated in a controlled, repeatable fashion. As the user steps on the GroundFX, the dynamic creative applications can magically wipe away one image to reveal another or flip tiny tiles to expose multiple images. Observers watch in amazement as a user motions away mist from an image or create ripples on a digital liquid surface.
"Every detail in the unit has been designed to provide a distracting and entertaining environment for children of all ages," said Karen Kinnear, Director, Child Health Services, The Labatt Family Heart Centre. "The GestureFX interactive projection display is fun and well suited to the outer space theme that is used throughout the unit." Whether relaxing in a virtual sensory environment, engaging in immersive play, or exploring the depth of our physiotherapy and music therapy applications, patients receive fun and motivation using GestureTek Health products. Check back with GestureTekHealth.com soon for more information on exciting new products to be released over the coming months.
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), affiliated with the University of Toronto, is Canada's most research-intensive hospital and the largest centre dedicated to improving children's health in the country. As innovators in child health, SickKids improves the health of children by integrating care, research and teaching. Our mission is to provide the best in complex and specialized care by creating scientific and clinical advancements, sharing our knowledge and expertise and championing the development of an accessible, comprehensive and sustainable child health system. For more information, please visit www.sickkids.ca . SickKids is committed to healthier children for a better world.
About GestureTek
GestureTek is the world leader in computer vision for gesture based control of information and entertainment systems and displays. GestureTek's gesture recognition technology is employed in a wide array of applications and environments, where the user is either stepping on or into interactive floor/wall projections, pointing at a display from any distance, or has their real-time actual video image immersed on the screen. Public installations and kiosks appear in multiple markets: museum and science centres, military control rooms, clean rooms, and location-based-entertainment facilities, retail locations, physical rehabilitation programs interactive floors/windows and interactive billboards. Consumer applications include home PC, console gaming, toys, as well as mobile devices. GestureTek headquarters are in Toronto, Canada, with additional offices in Ottawa, Silicon Valley, and New York. For information and/or a DVD or video, contact Patti Jordan at 416-340-9290 ext. 274.