Minority Report always struck me as one of those movies that pegged an accurate depiction of a possible future. And perhaps that future is a little closer than we all thought.

If you have a webcam, check out FluidTunes. This little download lets you control your iTunes library via hand gestures captured through your cam. It’s downright cool, even if it’s not the most practical thing in the world. After clicking to install, you’ll get a zip file. Unzip the file and you’ll see some quick instructions, then you’re pretty much ready to go. I found that I needed to close the application, then open it again to get my iTunes library loaded in.

So, does it work? Well, yes it does. Broad swipes of the hand will move you quickly through your iTunes library, while smaller gestures will cycle your songs slowly. Wiggle your hand at one of the on-screen buttons to activate that button. Now, you’ll need to experiment to get the gestures right, and you’ll find that if you pass through the camera you might accidentally activate one of the buttons. You might also need to adjust your camera to get better results.

Overall, it’s a fun thing to use, but probably not the best way to play your songs. One unfortunate oversight is the lack of a “shuffle” button. That said, it’s worth a try and, if nothing else, makes an impressive little conversation piece for your next party. The video below shows how it all works.

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