Flutter (American company)

Flutter, founded in 2011 and acquired by Google in 2013, was a gesture recognition company based in the United States. The company developed technology that allowed users to interact with computers and devices using hand gestures, without the need for physical contact with the screen or a traditional input device like a mouse or keyboard.

Flutter's core product utilized a computer vision-based algorithm to detect and interpret hand movements in front of a webcam or other camera-equipped device. This technology was initially available as a free software download for Windows and macOS operating systems. Users could then control media playback, browse web pages, and perform other tasks using simple hand gestures, such as waving or pointing.

Following its acquisition by Google, Flutter's technology was integrated into various Google products and services. While the original standalone Flutter software is no longer actively maintained, the underlying gesture recognition principles have influenced later Google innovations in areas such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), as well as accessibility features across different platforms. The acquisition was primarily driven by Google's interest in acquiring the talent and intellectual property related to the gesture recognition technology developed by Flutter.