System and method for user input

1. A medical diagnostic imaging system, comprising:

a memory;

a processor in electronic communication with the memory;

a user interface comprising at least one physical control, wherein the physical control is not configured to be electrically connected to the processor;

a camera in electronic communication with the processor, where the camera is positioned to view the physical control;

wherein the processor is configured to:

receive images from the camera, where the images show a manipulation of the physical control by a user;

analyze the images to detect the manipulation of the physical control;

associate the manipulation of the physical control with a desired user input for controlling the medical diagnostic imaging system based on a mapping stored in the memory.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the physical control comprises one of a knob, a button, a slider, and a trackball.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the physical control is movable and the manipulation involves actual movement of the physical control.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the physical control comprises indicia configured to facilitate detection of the manipulation by the processor.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the indicia is selected from a text, a color, a pattern, or a surface texture.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the physical control is immovable and the manipulation involves a gesture as if the physical control were movable.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the gesture is a sliding motion, a rotating motion, a pushing motion or a rolling motion.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the association of the manipulation with the desired user input is modifiable.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera is integrated into the system.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera is separately attachable to the exterior of the system.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the medical diagnostic imaging system based on the desired user input.

12. A method for controlling a medical diagnostic imaging system comprising:

providing a user interface comprising at least one physical control, wherein the physical control is not configured to generate an electronic input signal to the processor,

viewing with a camera the physical control;

receiving images from the camera with a processor, where the images show a manipulation of the physical control by a user;

analyzing the images with the processor to detect the manipulation of the physical control; and

associating, with the processor, the manipulation of the physical control with a desired user input for controlling the medical diagnostic imaging system based on a mapping stored in a memory.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the physical control comprises one of a knob, a button, a slider, and a trackball.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the physical control is movable and the manipulation involves actual movement of the physical control.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the physical control comprises indicia configured to facilitate detection of the manipulation by the processor.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the physical control is immovable and the manipulation involves a gesture as if the physical control were movable.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the gesture is a sliding motion, a rotating motion, a pushing motion or a rolling motion.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising controlling, with the processor, the ultrasound system based on the desired user input.