Robotic technologies have the potential to play a major role in search-and-rescue missions—particularly in disaster areas that are dangerous for humans. Traditionally, operators have remotely guided robots by using a device that resembles a videogame joystick. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, are exploring ways to integrate Microsoft Surface and its natural user interface (NUI) into search-and-rescue robotics to control robots remotely with more precision and accuracy.