Gesturetek cofounder and President Vincent John Vincent, 46, points the way to the future of interactive interfaces. Educated at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Vincent has a degree in psychotherapy. He co-created Gesturetek in the mid ‘80s to build video gesture control technology, allowing users to control devices using only natural motions, rather than hold or touch anything.
His company’s next generation input devices include GestureExtreme, allowing the users on-screen emersion in real-time animation; GroundFX, an animated, interactive floor projection on which multiple users can walk on, to control the environment; and GestPoint, allows users to control a device from a distance using only there natural gestures.
What were you doing before your involvement in kiosk industry?
I co-created the technology now popular in public kiosk installations with my partner Francis MacDougall in the mid 80’s as an interactive art experience. Together we installed hundreds of systems in gallerias, and museums around the world, although I Mr. Vincent used the technology as the foundation for public art performances. The technology, for many years, was used as a purely immersive experience where the users saw themselves on a screen surrounded by interactive animation that they controlled with their full body. This has since evolved into our three distinct successful product lines.
What was your first kiosk project?
An installation for CITY TV / CHUM Television. CEO Moses Znaimer commissioned GestureTek Inc. as part of the Toronto Arts awards for up and coming talent to build and install a kiosk The installation sat in front of the then-CEO’S office and was visited by hundreds of media from around the world.
Where will the industry be in 5 yrs?
Large interactive screens will dominate and will be fully compatible with mobile devices, where personal information can be exchanged via personal hand-helds.
What has been the biggest missed opportunity in the industry, recently?
Most companies have not responded to the digital signage and self service markets yet – there has been such a delay in advancement due to the lack of acknowledgement of the ease of use for of large interactive displays.
