Based on the videos I've seen... you can hand launch the Spark (no phone, tablet, controller) by double tapping the button the battery and holding it in the palm of your hand.
From there (no phone, tablet, controller) you can raise both of your arms to activate active track and it will flash to let you know that it has you in target. You can then make a hand gesture to have it snap your picture.
You can also hold up the palm of your hand to control it.
So I think the answer to the original question is... YES! You can launch the Spark, control it with your hands, and have it initiate active track all without a controller of any sort.