Leap Motions Struggles Reveal Problems with 3-D Interfaces

It may take years for 3-D gesture-control to catch on with consumers and app developers.

Hype surrounding Leap Motion, an $80 3-D gesture-control gadget touted for its exceptional finger-tracking accuracy, reached fever pitch in the weeks before its July launch. Hundreds of thousands of people ordered the device ahead of its release, and a flashy demo video on YouTube was viewed millions of times.