Sensor-Based Approach to Gesture Control

A Canadian startup firm called Thalmic Labs has come up with what may be a whole new way to provide gesture-controlled computer interfaces.

The Myo, which looks like a black armband, uses sensors to detect electrical impulses in the muscles, and then translates them into screen commands via a Bluetooth connection. This would move gesture controls away from camera-based solutions (like Kinect).

Myo includes a 9-axis inertial measurement unit, haptic feedback, a built-in rechargeable Lithium battery, a set of proprietary EMG muscle activity sensors, and applicaton programming interfaces are available for both iOS and Android. It’s also Windows and Mac compatible.

The Myo Developer Kit was announced for pre-order in November.

The company, formed by some University of Waterloo grads, secured $14.5 million in funding over the summer.

You can read more about it at the company’s blog.

Source: Wired