Gesture Recognition
This gesture recognition bracelet is one of the cool new gadgets that lets you control devices by moving your hands.
Invented by Stephen Lake, Matthew Bailey and Aaron Grant, the MYO armband (derived from the prefix "myo" meaning related to muscle) can identify hand gestures by interpreting biometric signals in your arm.
When making a particular hand motion such as pointing, the armband can identify the gesture, which allows the pointing motion to be associated with a specific command for a digital device.
You can use hand signals to interact with televisions, computers, phones or anysmart technology system. The importance of this technology is that it enables you to interact more naturally with devices by reducing the need for input peripherals like mice, keyboards or touchscreens.
The problem with current gesture recognition technology like Wii by Nintendo or Kinect by Microsoft, is that it requires you to be in a specific location.
This is because motion sensors and cameras require positioning coordinates to accurately intrepret your motions using complex algorithms.
The MYO technology does not require positioning coordinates and therefore allows greater freedom of movement.
Gestures are identified by muscular and electrical activity in the forearm. This detection occurs without any electrodes touching the skin, and the recognition is instantaneous.
Myo currently recognizes about 20 gestures. For example, it recognizes the swiping motions we use to scroll a page on a touchscreen.
MYO is designed as a one-size-fits-all device. It uses Bluetooth 4.0, features on-board, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and works out-of-the-box with your Mac or Windows PC.
The launch of approximately 25,000 units is expected later this year.
Source: thalmic.com