Microsoft Researchers Developing Wrist-Worn Sensors That Track Finger Movements
Microsoft developers in the UK working with researchers from Newcastle University have recently announced an intriguing project: a wrist strap sensor that tracks finger motions in real time. Appropriately called Digits, the wireless system allows wearers to control computers remotely by recognition of individual finger movement and orientation using an infrared camera and an inertial measurement unit. That means not only the orientation of the wrist but the angles of each finger can be used for gesture control.
Because its a wireless wrist worn device rather than a glove, users could interact with electronic devices without being physically connected to them and have their hands free for non-computer related activities. The Digits prototype was demoed at the Computing Machinery Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (ACM UIST 2012).