Gesture control-enabling PC accessories might not be news but a recent Microsoft take on the technology looks interesting-- a keyboard with an embedded array of low-resolution IR proximity sensors.

Dubbed "Type-Hover-Swipe in 96 Bytes", the prototype does not require users' fingers to be more than 1cm above the keyboard, meaning one can easily integrate gesture control with regular typing. This makes it more usable than the Leap Motion, which requires users to hover their hands around 30cm above the device.

A 16 x 4 grid of low-resolution IR sensors hidden between the keys provides gesture data Microsoft describes as coarse (it is only 64 pixels of data) yet fast and accurate enough for fairly complex commands. A demo video shows swiping, pinch-to-zoom and even virtual steering wheel controls, all enabled by a combination of fast frame rate (over 300Hz) and "motion signature" gesture-detection algorithms.

Swedish gaming accessory maker Qpad claims to reinvent the humble mousepad with a pair "premium-grade" options-- the UC- and FX-series, both in soft yet resistant natural rubber for improved mouse movement and control.

According to the company, gamers need to regularly change their mousepads (either every 100 hours or every 3rd month) in order to ensure optimal friction, control, timing and precision.

The UC-series is the basic option, with a fabric surface with a cross-weave rubber underside. Available in 5 size options, the mousepad is robust and rollable for easy transport.

The Juno Power Jumpr does what most other portable device chargers do, namely provide power when electricity is scarce, if with the addition of a further power-- jump-starting cars in times of need.

In fact the 6000mAh battery delivers a 12V output at peak 300A via dedicated port. According to Juno Power this allows it to jump-start most 4- and 6-cylinder engines. No such luck for your V8, though.

The Tactus on-demand tactile touchscreen technology steps closer to commercial availability following a manufacturing and investment partnership with Taiwanese OEM Wistron.

“Wistron’s manufacturing and integration experience will serve to rapidly accelerate the deployment of our tactile touchscreen solution," Tactus says. "We look forward to shipping the first Tactus-enabled products from their high-volume facility in China later this year.”

One of the first Tactus-enabled products will be an iPad mini screen protector case able to pop-up a physical keyboard when one needs to type.

Microsoft launches a wireless keyboard aimed at living room users-- the All-in-Media Keyboard, a battery-powered number packing a full-size keyboard and a multitouch trackpad.

The keyboard connects to devices via either proprietary 2.4GHz wireless dongle (included) or regular USB cable, and like other Microsoft keyboards features Windows 8-specific keys handling the charms bar and the like as well as volume and media playback controls.

The trackpad has left and right mouse buttons on the lower edge, and the keyboard carries a special left-click button on the left side.

Australian laptop bag and case maker STM releases a follow-up to its Velocity portfolio-- the Annex collection, designed for the "more urban, fashion-oriented customer" wanting to keep their various devices organised.

Annex features four different bags, namely drifter, trust, sequel and link. All are available in olive, charcoal and red colours.

Described by STM as "like a favourite pair of cargo pants," drifter is a retro-style backpack. It features a 15-inch padded laptop cell, a bottom zip pocket hiding a detachable rain cover and plenty of compartment capacity for various items.

MIT spin-off FINsix reveals the latest version of a miniature power adapter it describes as "a perfect complement to today's thin, lightweight, portable laptops"-- the Dart, supposedly the smallest and lightest power adapter around.

First seen in unnamed form back at CES 2014, the Dart weighs all of 60g and is much smaller than regular power bricks. It uses very high freqency (VHF) power conversion, a patented MIT technology promising power cycles up to 1000x faster with the same energy loss of regular adapters, thus allowing the considerable duction in size.

FINsix also claims the Dart runs cool, unlike some power bricks doubling as space heaters or hot plates.

Microsoft reveals an update on the windows version of the Kinect sensor at BUILD 2014-- the imaginatively titled Kinect for Windows v2, with hardware similar to the Xbox One version of the peripheral.

The Windows sensor shares technologies with the console version, including an HD camera, noise-isolating multi-microphone array, Time-of-Flight technology, expanded field of view, improved skeletal tracking and active infrared capability. Developers should be able to take advantage of such features with a new SDK version.