XTR3D, a tiny new start up, is working on a technology which would enable smartphones to work on gestures made by users, BBC has reported. According to the report, smartphone based on the technology may come to the market in early 2012 itself. Handsets based on XTR3D technology would enable users to change FM channels, control volume, and do things only through gestures.
The company seems to be inspired by the Kinect of Microsoft, which is also a gesture-control gaming console. Kinect comes with depth sensors, RGB cameras and multi-array microphones which enable users to control the gaming console with both gestures and voice. Kinect reads gestures which are farther than 50 cm. However, it works well for televisions but is not that apt for tablets and smartphones.
Mobile chip maker Qualcomm had also some time back showcased a gesture controlled screen though its technology is different from Kinect.
XTR3D uses simpler 2D cameras and then does the surprising part — gets 3D out of 2D images. Users get all the benefits of 3D cameras, without the disadvantages like strain on eyes. Apart from the new devices which will come embedded with XTR3D technology, older smartphones can also download the software. Once it’s done, users will be able to use virtual swipe, zoom in, zoom out, pinch-to-zoom and more just through gestures itself. 
Interestingly, Micromax A85 has similar gesture control which uses the front camera to register the swipe gestures to navigate between different screens. Since this the first time such a facility has been launched, Micromax may be improving on it.