Take the #FirstLeap into 2014 with Leap Motion – Review

Now that the New Year is officially upon us, let me ask you something. How many of you (or your children) got an iPad or tablet of sorts over the holidays? Our little ones both have toy versions of tablets but, of course, they are still quite fond of Mommy and Daddy’s iPad. However, once you take sticky fingers and clumsy hands into account, we are not too fond of their love for the real thing. Surely, there are many perks to allowing children to have access to such electronics so, from time to time; they do get their hands on ours. I think that electronics like these appeal to children because it gives them a sense of command. In a world as immense as ours, finding out that you have the ability to control things with just a simple touch can be quite alluring for little ones. At the same time, however, we adults tend to claim that control as our own. Children have very little power over their worlds… until now.

Though not exactly being a product that is specifically geared toward children, that is exactly where I found its use.

The Leap Motion Controller is a tiny addition to your home computer setup that takes your computer experience to a whole new level. After plugging it in via USB and running a simple installation, the world is at your fingertips – quite literally. Working much like a touchscreen computer (or tablet), the Leap Motion Controller senses you. However, they’ve taken things a step further because this nifty little product senses your movements as opposed to your touch. That aspect alone screams “kid friendly,” at least for me.

Leap Motion has created a three dimensional-space of interactive freedom. Prior to being introduced to this wonderful bit of amazingness, we had contemplated investing in a touchscreen computer to make things a bit easier for the children. After breaking not one, and not two, but three computer mice, it was determined that a zero-touch approach was the way to go. While we’ve slowly been working with our little ones to introduce them to the basics of computer usage, they’ve already mastered touch-based items like their tablets and our iPad. Struggling with a “should we or shouldn’t we” scenario, I was thrilled to learn of this new technology from Leap Motion.

With the Leap Motion controller, the kids can play all of their favorite games without ever touching a thing. Whether they’re enjoying a simple Fruit Ninja or Cut the Rope competition or putting the pedal to the metal with Ralph and Vanellope in Disney’s Sugar Rush, the ease of use is simply incredible. With just the wave of your hand or the movement of your fingertips, the Leap Motion Controller senses you and moves accordingly. With every action catering to nothing but your very own movements, the Leap Motion Controller is wonderful for children. They can still dive into today’s technological world while simultaneously learning and visualizing how truly amazing they are and what their own little bodies are capable of.

For us adults, the Leap Motion Controller is no different. With the simple movements of your hands within the Leap Motion’s virtual, interactive, three-dimensional space, you can control the commands of your computer and work steadily without ever touching a thing. With everything from writing, grabbing, and moving, to browsing the web, playing music, and flipping through photos, everything is within your grasp (literally!) with the Leap Motion Controller.

BUY:
The Leap Motion Controller can be purchased directly through their website as well as select Best Buy locations for an ARV of $79.99.

CONNECT:
Be sure to keep up with Leap Motion via their social media networks on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on all of the latest news, potential giveaways, sale prices, and more!

My family and I are thrilled to have been able to leap into the future of technology with Leap Motion and we are beyond delighted that the kids can finally get back to playing their favorite computer games without the worry of breaking anything. The Leap Motion Controller has surely made for an incredibly fun start to the New Year and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead.

*Randi received the above product(s), free of charge, to facilitate this review. All opinions are those of the reviewer only.