Using Gestures To Flip Through Web Media

What’s the Latest Development?

San Francisco-based startup Flutter recently released a plug-in for Google Chrome that works with a computer’s built-in webcam to enable users to play and shuffle through songs and videos on media sites using simple hand gestures. “When you use the Chrome plug-in, a thumb held out to the right or left will skip to the next video on YouTube (if you’ve compiled a playlist) or to the next chapter in a movie you’re watching on Netflix.” The extension works with Flutter’s desktop software, which was first released in March and is compatible with iTunes and similar applications. Founders Mehul Nariyawala and Navneet Dalal say they are working on adding the browser functionality to more media sites and creating a version for smartphones.

What’s the Big Idea?

Gesture recognition software has become more popular over the last few years, thanks in part to the technology that runs Microsoft’s XBox. Both the Flutter software and plug-in are free for now; Nariyawala and Dalal hope to profit in the future by adding premium features and charging app developers for their technology.

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