Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Change the Channel

Out: The Clapper. In: A TV that not only recognizes handclaps but also gestures you make in the direction of the set.

JVC's new set on display at CEATEC is fully claptastic, thanks to the requisite microphone so it can listen for handclaps, which let you perform actions in sequence. Clap your hands twice to pull up an on-screen menu. Clap again and you can select the function you want: Change channel, alter volume, and so on. Then clap again when you get the channel you want, and so on. You get the picture.

If that takes too long, an integrated camera can actually monitor your hand movements and let you "click" on menu items by making a "hook" with your finger. Sounds a little like a Nintendo Wii remote, only with your extended digit instead of a hunk of plastic. Just point at the TV and pick your channel from the menu. The camera can reportedly tell the difference between a hand and other items in the room, but still I can imagine that in a busy household you might find a bunch of errant pointers on screen, covering up the image when you're trying to watch a Jessica Alba movie. (That said, details on how this really works are a little sketchy and are translated from Japanese, too; I'm doing my best here.)

It's a nifty idea, and I've been known to have a Clapper in my house from time to time, but it all sounds very slow in  actual operation. I'm not sure I have that kind of patience, but I certainly wouldn't mind having the feature next time the kids run off with the remote.

UPDATE: JVC says the TV is just a concept for now. 

LINK: Clap Hands to Control Volume, Make Gestures to Change Channels