BEST PRODUCTS
REVIEWS
NEWS
VIDEO
HOW TO
SMART HOME
CARS
DEALS
JOIN / SIGN IN
DOWNLOAD
COMPUTERS
Five ways to set up and optimize the
Leap Motion Controller
Computers for work and play
Keep track of the latest laptops, tablets and
desktops with the Computing Report newsletter.
Before you draw midair masterpieces, or flick bricks with your
Your email address
finger, find out which settings and best-practices optimize the
Leap Motion Controller for speed, accuracy, and ergonomics.
I have read and agree to the CBS Interactive terms of use and privacy
B Y S H A R O N P R O F I S / J U LY 2 6 , 2 0 1 3 3 : 1 7 P M P D T
policy. I understand that I will receive the CNET Insider and also
Computing Report Newsletters. I am aware I can opt out at any time.
SIGN ME UP!
Now Playing: Optimize a Leap Motion Controller
3:36
For most computer tasks, nothing beats the good ol' keyboard and
mouse. But the Leap Motion Controller is here, and it's challenging the
way we think about navigating our computers.
If you're one of the early adopters looking for a hint of "Minority Report"
in your life, the Leap Motion is already quick to impress (or at least
entertain). With it, you can play games, draw, and even perform
unexpected tasks -- like unlocking your PC -- without ever touching the
mouse. Sounds awesome, but the device does have some quirks that
could cause some frustration as you get started.
As your work the Leap into your life, use these tips to optimize
performance and make the experience as painless as possible.
1. Placement
According to the developers at Leap Motion, you can really put the
controller wherever you want -- right, left, in front of your keyboard, on
your head, in your lap. The point is, don't stress about picking just one
spot; the Controller quickly adapts to changes in placement.
In testing, it became clear that the most ergonomic setup places the
Play Sound
Autoplay
Controller in front of the keyboard, center to the screen. Then, when it's
not in use, place it between the keyboard and monitor (or off to the side
of a laptop). It's unlikely you'll actively use the Leap Motion concurrently
with your keyboard and mouse, so keep it front and center when you're
using an app.
The consequences of a faraway Controller? Arm fatigue. Seriously.
Reach too far and you'll wish you spent more time strength training
before going touch-free.
2. Keep it smudge-free
Underneath the Leap
Motion Controller's dark
plate of glass lie two
cameras and an infrared
sensor. Dust, smudges, and
dirt will hinder tracking,
especially during activities
that call for precision.
To help the Leap Motion's
sensors out, keep it as clean and smudge-free as possible. If there's a
big, glaring smudge, it will let you know with a notification in the taskbar
(or menu bar on a Mac). But don't wait for a warning to clean. Your unit
came with a microfiber cloth, so use that to wipe the glass every so
often.
3. Fine-tune gesture tracking
While the Leap's engineers insist that most folks need not adjust any
settings, we tinkerers tend to disagree. Whether you're a prosumer using
apps that call for precision, or an early adopter who wants to personalize
the Controller, there are a couple useful settings worth toying with.
From the taskbar in Windows or the menu bar on a Mac, open the Leap
Motion Controller menu and head to Settings.
In the first tab, over on the right, take a look at the Interaction Height
setting. You'll see that the height is set to 20 centimeters, placing the 8cubic-foot gesture zone 20 centimeters from the top surface of the
device. That's a good default, but if you're getting arm fatigue or are
unusually tall, you might want to lower or raise that zone, respectively.
Use the slider to test different options.
Sharon Vaknin/CNET
There's also an Automatic Interaction Setting, which prompts the Leap
Motion Controller to constantly move the zone based on your
movements. It sounds good in theory, but in testing, the setting wasn't
very reliable. Stick with a static height instead.
In the tracking tab, take a look at Tracking Priority. By default, it's set to
Balanced, giving speed and precision equal attention. In most use cases,
that is the perfect setting; however, if you're an artist looking for
precision, choose the Precision setting. Or, if you're playing a game that
calls for speed, give the Speed setting a try.
Just realize that if you prioritize one tracking option, the other will be
slightly diminished. On more-powerful systems, this is less apparent, but
expect some latency on the other element either way. Check out the
numbers at the bottom to see how changing these settings affects
performance.
4. Recalibrating the Leap
Motion Controller
Drop, shake, or even dent
your Leap Motion Controller
and the innerparts will get
upset. In the unfortunate
event that these things
happen, the Controller will
likely ask you to calibrate
your unit.
Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNET
But, tinkerers: you need not
wait for the Leap Motion to
prompt you to do so. If you've move the unit around a lot, or notice that
tracking is off-kilter, take a few seconds to recalibrate.
To do so, head to the Settings panel > Troubleshooting > Recalibrate
device.
This is where things get weird. Grab your device, and with the glass side
facing the computer screen about 1 or 2 inches away, slowly tilt it in
various directions to paint the screen green, until you get a "score" of 80.
Recalibration is easiest on glossy screens, while the process is a little
lengthier on matte screens.
Why? In the recalibration process, the software tracks the Controller's
infrared sensor bouncing off the screen and back onto the device. (Neat,
right?)
5. Consider your specs
If you've experimented with all these optimization options and are still
underwhelmed with the Leap Motion's performance, there's a good
chance your computer's to blame. Though the minimum requirements
aren't demanding, the controller is designed to adapt to various systems.
So its performance is correlated with the system it's running on.
Sure, it'll function on a PC packing 2GB RAM and a Core i3 processor,
but give it 4GB RAM and a Core i7, and you'll see a drastic improvement
in speed and accuracy.
For people who want more information about how the Leap Motion
Controller processes data (or rather, doesn't process data), check out this
forum discussion.
Y O U M AY A L S O L I K E
S p o n s o r e d L i n k s b y Ta b o o l a
The Must-Play City Building Game of 2018
Sponsored by Forge Of Empires - Free Online Game
Play this for 1 minute and see why everyone is addicted
Sponsored by Vikings: Free Online Game
Language expert shares the secret to learning a language in 20 mins a day
Sponsored by Babbel
People from Mexico cannot believe these flight prices
Sponsored by Trips Shop
S H A R E YO U R VO I C E
12 comments
TAG S
Computers
Laptops
Next Article: Apple sets Sept. 12 for its next big event, new iPhones on deck
PHONES
Apple sets Sept. 12 for its next big event,
new iPhones on deck
The company will host its launch at the Steve Jobs Theater in
Cupertino, California.
BY SHARA TIBKEN / AUGUST 30, 2018 12:27 PM PDT
Apple
You won't have to wait much longer for the next iPhones: Apple has sent
out invites for an event on Sept. 12, once again at Apple's new Steve
Jobs Theater at its campus in Cupertino, California.
The company, as usual, didn't specify what it will announce, but it tends
to show off its newest iPhones in September. This time around, reports
suggest it could introduce three new iPhones, as well as new fourth-
generation Apple Watch smartwatches and new iPad Pro models.
Since the invite was released, 9to5mac is reporting that at least two of
the new phones will use the iPhone XS moniker (that's "ten S,"
presumably), and a leaked photo the site says is the revised Apple
Watch 4 design. And plenty of folks are already deconstructing -- and
poking fun at -- the invitation's "gather round" slogan and design. Some
believe the bigger hint is the color, as the ring itself is a design Apple
uses to represent its Apple Park campus.
Read: Everything Apple is expected to announce in September
CNET will be on hand to bring you all the news, photos and reviews from
the event.
Watch this: Apple confirms 2018 iPhone event for Sept. 12
5:49
Apple has been on a tear over the past few years. The company's
iPhone is one of the best-selling devices in the world, and Apple's fiscal
fourth-quarter revenue projections indicate it's optimistic about
the phones expected in September. At the same time, the company has
been expanding into new markets like wearables, and revenue from its
software and services, like Apple Music and the App Store, has been
soaring.
In early August, Apple became the US' first publicly traded trillion-dollar
company.
SEE ALSO
New 2018 iPhone, iPhone X Plus, iPhone 9: All the rumors on price,
specs, release date
Apple's iPhone X keeps selling as Q3 services revenue soars
Apple Watch 4: Rumored specs, leaks, price, release date
Last year's new top-end iPhone, the iPhone X, was the device's first
major redesign in three years. Apple ditched the TouchID button in favor
of Face ID technology and touted the device as the "future of mobile."
Since it hit stores Nov. 3, the iPhone X has been Apple's best-selling
device. That's even though it's the most expensive phone Apple's ever
sold. The 5.8-inch device starts at $999 in the US, $300 more than the
4.7-inch iPhone 8 and $200 more than the 5.5-inch iPhone 8 Plus.
Among Apple's expected trio of new iPhones in September is a possible
model that's considerably larger than the iPhone X and another that's
significantly less expensive. Along with those changes, Apple may
incorporate new build materials and colors, increase the processing
speeds, boost the screen resolution and make tweaks to extend battery
life.
It's also expected to update its Apple Watch with a bigger screen and
introduce new iPad Pro tablets.
Best iPhone 2018 leaked photos and
renders so far
23
Originally published 9:07 a.m. PT. Updated with info on XS name, Apple
Watch rumors and additional links.
Everything we know about the next iPhone: All the rumors about the
next iPhone -- or three.
All the products we expect Apple to announce in September: The
lowdown on every new device in Apple's pipeline.
S H A R E YO U R VO I C E
26 comments
TAG S
Apple Event
Phones
Wearable Tech
Tablets
Rumors
Apple
Next Article: Hello, 8K displays: TV's next must-have feature isn't really a must-have
💻
📞
Need a new laptop? Start here
with our favorites
Best tips for buying a new
phone this year
by Joshua Goldman
by Jessica Dolcourt
CNET Magazine
Check out the fall issue of CNET Magazine to
learn about Blockchain, discover the latest
innovation in beekeeping and find out how to
take the jet lag out of long-distance travel.
You can also get glimpses into the future of
supersonic jets, augmented hearing devices
and a Star Trek-style holodeck.
Read Now!
Download the CNET app / About CNET / Sitemap / Privacy Policy / Ad Choice / Terms of Use / Mobile User Agreement / Help Center
© CBS INTERACTIVE INC.
All Rights Reserved.
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
CNET may get a commission from retail offers.
TOP BRANDS
Roadshow