Try Flora's Handy new tool and let us know what you think - you could win a £200 John Lewis voucher. NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

Flora have just released a new browser based video player, Handy, that lets you control YouTube videos with a wave of a hand and they've asked us to find out what Mumsnetters' think of it.

Here's what Flora have to say: "Whipping up a storm and having fun in the kitchen is has just become even easier, thanks to the arrival of our new recipe player; Handy by Flora. Using specially designed gesture-control technology, Handy by Flora lets you pause, play and rewind any video you can find on YouTube with a simple wave of the hand."

Head to //www.handybyflora.com, making sure you’re using a laptop with a webcam, copy the YouTube URL of the video you want to follow and get started.

So, what do you think of Handy? Did you find it easy to use? Would you find it useful for playing and following recipe videos? What other gadgets would you like to make baking easier?

Whatever you think about Handy, Flora would love to hear about it.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £200 John Lewis voucher.

Please note your comments may be included on Flora's social media channels, and possibly elsewhere, so please only post if you're comfortable with this.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

PS - Handy by Flora is free to use and currently works on laptops through Chrome browsers only. There are plans to support other devices and web browsers soon.

[sharond101]

This is a great idea but I would have liked the ingredients list before the video played as how am I to know if I have all the correct ingredients before start?

My Niece loved the hand movements to play and rewind. The video was too fast to follow properly (mince pies).

Limited at the moment with only 2 recipes. I

[CMOTDibbler]

Thats really neat! I often scribble down recipes as I don't want to get gunk on my work laptop, and it would make following more complicated instructions easy

[PaschasDanglyReindeerBaubles]

Doesn't detect my webcam. I might try and find out why later, maybe.

[rootypig]

Brilliant idea! Feedback:

Would be nice if it were an app that worked for any video
Slow the video down, to take into account people having their hands full / kids
More useful on a tablet, that 's what I take into the kitchen with me

[SpicedTeaAndXmasCakeOrDeath]

I agree, a little too fast but DS loved playing with it and therefore 'helping' me in the kitchen so I like it for that...

[MrsClauswearsspanx]

Yep I also found it a little too fast as I'm constantly shifting my busy-body 9 month old around. But great, great idea!

[DinoSnores]

I liked it and could see myself using it on a whole host of Youtube videos. It wasn't as responsive as I would have hoped for, but I wonder whether the room was just a bit too dark and it might have worked better if more lights had been on!

[ReastieYuleANBU]

I have no idea what it is as I can't get the link to work :( I assume this is something to do with the chrome thing as I have a macbook with safari [clueless]

[addictedtosugar]

Using a laptop, with webcam, and running chrome.
Just get a blank screen.
Any further technical requirements?

[NettleTea]

Great idea!
really simple to use

[KnitActually]

Nice idea, but I didn't know people followed youtube recipes, how tedious to have to watch the whole thing. I always browse the written recipes.

[loubielou31]

Very clever, easy to use just don't wave too fast.
I guess it works on all instructional videos, (I'll try it) might be good for make up tutorials or other jobs when you've hands might be too muck to be touching the screen. Or even hair styles.

[loubielou31]

Yep, it works.

[mrscumberbatch]

I don't use YouTube on a pc so no good for me. I use my mobile for cooking in the kitchen- takes up less space

[SarahJessicaFarter]

Great idea, so simple to use. Looking forward to more recipes. Really at home with this tech since buying a Smart TV, so love it!

[AnnaConda]

Great idea.

Also, Dh was following a YouTube video at the weekend to make an electrical repair and this would have been useful while having his hands full of tools etc.

[ouryve]

I gave up. It would have been quicker to wipe a pinky finger clean and press a button. Or, rather, touch the screen as I tend to do with the iPad. I had to try the gesture several times to get the video to start. I stopped it by accident, scratching my nose, then, when I eventually got it started again, couldn't stop it at all.

Aside from all that faff, I'm perfectly capable of following a written recipe, or even memorising one, anyhow.

[Jinty64]

Great idea! I currently use the I-pad for cooking but I could be converted.

[Kipsy]

What a fantastic idea! I really really needed this.

I try out at least one new recipe a week, and prefer using video recipes to book/written recipes.

Somehow they all seem to be involve me getting my hands wet/dirty. The frequent pausing or replaying has led to my laptop being covered in crumbs, oil etc - my laptop mouse and keyboard gave up the ghost ages ago, and I am now on a USB keyboard AND mouse.

My mouse thanks you! Squeak!

[manfalou]

Great idea! No one wants to get floury fingers on the keyboards and this is the answer. Much better than using recipe books too but wasn't as responsive as I would have liked.

[CheeseTMouse]

I like the idea, but wouldn't want my laptop in the kitchen (I have a tendency to spill things) and so I am more likely to use this if it was compatible with my phone.

[asuwere]

I didn't really like it - it took quite a few attempts to get the video to play, I found I really had to be in just the right place for it to work. I can't imagine ever needing to watch a video while cooking - it seems easy enough to follow a written recipe.

I also don't really have anywhere in my kitchen to put my laptop.

[Willemdefoeismine]

It's a fun idea in theory - my DD loved it - a bit too quirky for me though....I'm not sure you would want eggs, milk, etc....all over the laptop - maybe when the laptop is a flat skin tile on the kitchen wall! I think it's almost ahead of the technology!

[MollyBerry]

I couldn't get this to work but YouTube and recipes don't work for me. I much prter things written down and as a plus having photo steps. The only time I really YouTube is for something crafty that's got a complicated movement in it