Engineering On The Edge

Microsoft has been busy incorporating new user interface technology into its products for some time, and now scientists at the company’s University of Cambridge lab (along with help from Newcastle University and the University of Crete) have come up with a new gesture recognition device that builds a 3D model of the user’s hand to virtually control electronic devices.

Called Digits, the electronic bracelet uses a camera-based sensor to construct the 3D hand and interpret what it is doing. An infrared laser beam scans the hand to measure the distance between the user’s digits, while a ring of LED lights illuminates the hand. An intertial measurement device senses the orientation and movement of the arm and wrist. In other words, it’s a little like Kinect, but mobile and with a higher resolution read on what your fingers are actually doing.

The technology could be used as a “virtual TV control,” to operate a smartphone, or as a game controller. It could also be used to manipulate virtual 3D objects or in augmented reality scenarios.

Digits was unveiled at the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software in Cambridge this week, and you  can read more about the technology in the proceedings.

The current model (built from off-the-shelf parts) is a bit bulky, but the company hopes to reduce the technology to a wristwatch format.

You can see a video about the technology below:

Source: Microsoft