We have heard of voice commands, we have heard of touchscreens. Now comes gesture-control. Yes, a technology that functions on your gestures. No, it’s not a robot who will cook for you if you rub your hands over your stomach and feign a famished look—that kind of gesture-control is seen only in humans, and that too only in the more compassionate and loving kind.

We are talking about Kerala Tourism’s brand new website—when-it-rains.com–which is gesture-controlled. No keypad. No mouse. All you need to do is wave your hand and the screen changes. A new page loads. Ain’t it even better than Aladdin ka chirag? You don’t even need to say “Khul ja sim sim!”

The website is yet another feather in the cap of Kerala Tourism. The organization has been quite creative and aggressive in its media campaigns to promote tourism in Kerala. Not that they need to do much, considering the fact that it is God’s own country and is a much sought-after destination for tourists. Developed by Stark Communications, the marketing and communications agency of Kerala Tourism Department, the new website is Kerala Tourism’s monsoon gift to us. As they rightly say on the website:  “A puddle is all it takes to turn anyone into a child.”

The website currently functions only on Chrome and you’d of course need webcam to browse through it using the gesture function. The website did cause a few gaping gestures at office, with people acting like oracles focusing on their crystal balls. Check it out.

Imagine it’s raining. Pitter-patter. You are sitting in the balcony in your cozy cane chair. A steaming cup of tea in one hand, spicy paneer pakodas in the other. Your laptop is placed before you, and shows up the monsoon website of Kerala Tourism. The scene is that of a rain-drenched Kerala landscape. Dense greens, grey skies, and the famous houseboat. You want to see more, but both your hands are occupied. You cannot touch the mouse with those greasy hands.

And then you remember this article. Brings a smile to your face, doesn’t it?