Mastering Leap Motion

Design robust and responsive Leap Motion applications for real-world use

About This Book

• Become an expert in making apps for Leap Motion using object-oriented programming
• Learn effective techniques and innovative design processes that are ideal for creating and testing 2D and 3D applications
• Explore the future of human and computer interaction enabled by Leap Motion today, through practical use cases

Who This Book Is For

If you want to begin writing full-fledged applications for the Leap Motion Controller or if you are trying to figure out how the Leap Motion device integrates with preexisting technologies, this is the book for you. Since we’ll be making heavy use of object-oriented programming, a working knowledge of any object-oriented programming language is essential. Basic familiarity with developing Leap Motion apps is assumed.

In Detail

Leap Motion technology offers a truly innovative way of interacting with software. Traditionally, computing has always involved the use of a keyboard, a mouse or a controller. Leap Motion gives developers a new solution to creating a radically new user experience, in a way that is both comprehensive and disruptive in the most exciting sense of the term. From typing to robotic hands and virtual harps, Leap Motion makes human and computer interaction so much more immersive.

Starting with the fundamentals, this book will arm you with the knowledge you need to write functional and intuitive 2D and 3D Leap Motion applications. Beginning with a quick step-by-step guide to get you set up and an overview of how the Leap Motion API works to consolidate your knowledge, the book then looks closely at writing a 2D painting application and explores how to create a 3D application. The book will then look forward to the future of Leap Motion and the future that could be made by it. Featuring diagrams, screenshots, and code examples to guide you as you master Leap Motion, this book will keep you in touch with the future of technology.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction to the World of Leap Motion
Chapter 2. What the Leap Sees – Dealing with Fingers, Hands, Tools, and Gestures
Chapter 3. What the User Sees – User Experience, Ergonomics, and Fatigue
Chapter 4. Creating a 2D Painting Application
Chapter 5. Creating a 3D Application – a Crash Course in Unity 3D
Chapter 6. Creating a 3D Application – Integrating the Leap Motion Device with a 3D Toolkit
Chapter 7. Creating a 3D Application – Controlling a Flying Entity
Chapter 8. Troubleshooting, Debugging, and Optimization
Chapter 9. Going beyond the Leap Motion Controller