The Vicara Motion Engine

At Vicara, we aim to ideate. Aspire to invent. And strive to innovate. Vicara pioneers technology that enhances and augments the capabilities of humans, enabling them to engage better with their surroundings, digital & otherwise. Vicara is developing a range of technology interfaces, platforms and solutions,which integrate a blend of Voice, Gesture and Image Recognition to serve a wide array of applications across multiple consumer and enterprise markets. But at the heart of the company lies a core mission - to conceive technology that is immersive, intuitive & interactive.

But how do we revolutionise technology? Does it have a secret formula? What truly powers Vicara?

It is the Vicara Motion Engine (VME).

What  is the VME?

The VME is a platform independent firmware stack that leverages data from motion engines to accurately identify motion & gestures with minimal processor & memory requirements. If  the Kai gesture controller in your hands allows you to game as well as design graphics, with the mere gestures of your hands, it's thanks to the VME. If Eli the presentation controller just enabled you to deftly deliver that deck and got you that scoop of investment, you owe it to the VME.

But is the VME only used for gesture & presentation controllers? Of course not. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. So what are the applications of VME? Let’s find out.

1. Virtual & Augmented Reality
   AR & VR have become the new normal. Every major tech giant is foraying into this domain, trying to define a reality of its own. But a lot of these mixed reality experiences aren't truly intuitive due to the presence of bulky hand controllers which hinder the ease of navigation through the experience. In a bid to bridge the gap between un-intuitive button-based & immersive gesture controls for AR or VR, the VME allows you to accurately recreate the movement of your hands & fingers within these virtual worlds. Unlike the conventional controllers which ensue a sense of confusion with its use, the VME provides a seamless experience with its hand-motion interface. So the next time you get that VR headset on, you won’t have to face the same struggle.

2. Motion Data Analysis

Over the decade, motion analysis has found multifold applications in computer vision, image processing, high-speed photography & machine vision. It also shapes solutions for a wide range of industries such as the gaming, robotics, animation & the medical sectors. VME has proved to be an excellent fit for harnessing the true potential of motion data. Once the VME is implemented into hand-held consumer devices it can also identify user behaviour based on the data it acquires. This can be further used to gather insights for feature-engineering, design flaw identification, user sentiment analysis etc.

3. Fall Detection/Crash Sensing

Fall detection is a major challenge in the public healthcare domain, especially for the elderly due to the decline of their physical fitness. Timely & reliable surveillance turns out to be the need of the hour to mitigate the negative effects of the fall. The Vicara Motion Engine is capable of detecting falls or crashes, whether integrated into rider helmets, bikes or arm bands for the elderly. The ability to seek help without explicitly requesting it, can ensure that help arrives no matter what the situation is. Apart from this, the VME can also provide:

• An added level of safety

• Timely help even if unconscious

• Monitoring for the elderly & safety assurance

• An option to turn off alert in case of an incorrect trigger

4. Smart Remote

Aren’t we all tired of using our same old TV remotes for years now? While televisions have turned smarter, remotes have taken a backstep. Well we have a solution for this as well. The VME can be easily placed within to enable better control & an improved user experience for Smart TVs. Imagine being able to weave words with this wand-like remote in your hands, on your TV? Yes, all you’ve to do is swipe to type. The VME also reduces time-to market for Smart TV solutions & delivers great performance at competitive prices.

5. Air Mouse

Pitches & presentations are incomplete without a pointer. But more often than not, these turn out to be a hassle rather than a help. The VME based Air Mouse not only distances this distress, but in turn offers additional functionality & truly optimizes your workspace. The Air Mouse ensures accessibility by allowing users that may not be able to use the generic mouse, to easily control digital interfaces by moving hands in the air. It is also used to add mouse-controls or gesture control for presentations & interactive meetings. Check out the rest of its fantastic features out here.

6. Motion Control as a UI

The last few years in technology have seen a significant transition from Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) to Natural User Interfaces (NUIs). It’s no surprise that 80% of us prefer the use of gesture or motion based controls owing to its ease & enhanced engagement it offers in our digital surroundings. Enabling a motion controlled user interface has transformed into a primary application of the VME. When posed with a challenge of integrating gesture control on a pre-existing low power architecture, the VME not only delivered great performance & accuracy but outdid itself by consuming merely 1% of the total battery capacity.

7. Gaming

You’re not a true player in cutting edge technology until you set foot in the gaming arena.

Remember how effortlessly we welcomed Nintendo Wii in our lives? And the times when Pokemon Go always kept us on our toes. Players constantly seek for real-life replication of experiences in their games, and in the process have found immersive gaming to be 20x more engaging than the traditional ones. With the VME, a generic gaming controller can transform into a full fledged steering wheel. The same gaming controller in Fruit Ninja, can also serve as a Samurai sword. If you want to race ahead in time, here’s a simple DIY Project to give you a glimpse of how enthralling gestures in games can be.

The VME certainly ensues a plethora of possibilities with it. But is it better than the technology, that’s out there? Let’s find out.

• Storage & space have always been a deciding factor. The more lucrative the space is, the more it lags. Be it for the phone in your hand, or the laptop you’re working on. Vicara has covered this clause as well. With the VME, you get to experience 108x more memory efficiency coupled with the features of Motion tracking, on any device without extensive memory requirements.

• With no need for external processing, the VME also offers 83x processor efficiency coupled with the flexibility of adding motion controls to any device. So the next time you face a compatibility issue or a lack of processor power, you know who to turn to.

• The VME’s prowess drastically reduces time-to-market. Unlike the limitation of others, it renders custom motion & gesture solutions for new & pre-existing devices out there. You don’t have to bargain for the best.

• The motion data analysis by the VME can also be leveraged for user-behaviour analytics. If you battle to comprehend your customers or aim to enhance the user experience, the VME just made your life 100x easier.

For the VME, the sky is the limit. Its versatility ensures that you’ve a stop solution for everything you need. Its power provides you these solutions with great accuracy & agility. And its customizability, leverages all the liberty you require to successfully shape that solution.

Technology is a tough nut to crack. But with the VME, implementation of your technology can not only turn easier, but also transform into something exceptional. See for yourself out here.

‍