Qualcomm snaps up GestureTek assets for gesture recognition in smartphones

Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) purchased certain assets from GestureTek, which makes gesture recognition technology, and plans to use the technology for chips that will go into smartphones, tablets and other devices.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Qualcomm said it purchased "certain intellectual property assets related to gesture recognition, as well as key engineering resources" from Sunnyvale, Calif.-based GestureTek. Qualcomm said it plans to incorporate gesture recognition technology into its current and next-generation Snapdragon processors for smartphones tablets and home entertainment devices. GestureTek will retain other assets for its gesture-controlled public display and digital signage business.

GestureTek was founded in 1986 and is heavily involved in displays for kiosks, the healthcare industry as well as consumer electronics. According to a GestureTek company fact sheet, since 2003 the company's sales have increased an average of 50 percent per year and employee growth has average 30 percent per year.

GestureTek video gesture control technology lets users control user interface and access information by waving their hands in front of a display. The acquisition highlights the changing nature of user input for mobile devices, which has expanded in recent years to include not only touchscreens but also voice recognition.

For more:
- see this release
- see this AllThingsD article
- see this TechCrunch post

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