A smart glove is a wearable device that can sense and transmit the hand and finger movements of the user to a computer or a smartphone. Smart gloves can also provide feedback to the user, such as kinesthetic and tactile stimuli, that simulate touching and manipulating virtual objects. The smart glove has many potential applications in various industries, such as medicine, gaming, education, and entertainment. In this article, we will explore some of the latest developments and trends in smart glove technology.

Smart Glove for Stroke Rehabilitation

Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting millions of people every year. One of the most common and devastating consequences of stroke is the loss of hand function, which can severely impair the ability to perform daily activities and reduce the quality of life. However, a new smart glove developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) may offer hope for stroke survivors who want to regain their hand functions.

The smart glove is made of a stretchy fabric that contains a network of sensor yarns and pressure sensors. These sensors can detect and capture even the smallest hand and finger movements and grasping force and wirelessly transmit them to a computer or a smartphone. The smart glove is part of a pilot study involving a group of stroke survivors in B.C. this month. They will wear the glove while doing exercises supervised by Dr. Janice Eng, a professor of medicine at UBC and a renowned stroke rehabilitation expert. Dr. Eng says the smart glove can help monitor the patient’s progress and provide feedback for improving exercise programs.

“With this glove, we can monitor patients’ hand and finger movements without needing cameras. We can then analyze and fine-tune their exercise programs for the best possible results, even remotely,” she says.

The smart glove is also capable of providing kinesthetic feedback to the user, such as a gentle pull or push on the fingers, to guide them to perform the correct movements. The researchers hope that the smart glove can boost the hand mobility and function of stroke patients and improve their quality of life.

Smart Glove for Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that creates an immersive and interactive environment that simulates the real world or a fictional one. VR can be used for entertainment, education, training, and therapy. However, one of the challenges of VR is to provide realistic and natural feedback to the user, especially for the sense of touch. Smart gloves can help solve this problem by enabling the user to touch and manipulate virtual objects more intuitively and directly.

Smart gloves can also provide sensitive stimuli that can be perceived by the human hands, such as kinesthetic and tactile feedback. Kinesthetic feedback refers to the sensation of movement and force, such as the weight and shape of an object. Tactile feedback refers to the sensation of texture, temperature, and vibration, such as the roughness or smoothness of a surface. Smart gloves can use various methods to generate this feedback, such as electric stimulation, air pressure, vibration, or heat.

Some examples of smart gloves for VR are:

• Dexmo glove, developed by a Chinese company called Dexta Robotics. The Dexmo glove can track the hand and finger movements of the user and provide kinesthetic feedback by using mechanical brakes that can lock the finger joints at different angles. The Dexmo glove can also provide tactile feedback by using a haptic module that can generate vibration and heat. The Dexmo glove can be used with various VR headsets and platforms, such as Oculus, HTC Vive, and SteamVR.
• HaptX glove, developed by a US company called HaptX. The HaptX glove can track the hand and finger movements of the user and provide tactile feedback by using microfluidic technology that can create pressure and temperature changes on the skin. The HaptX glove can also provide kinesthetic feedback by using a magnetic system that can apply force to the fingers. The HaptX glove can be used with various VR headsets and platforms, such as Oculus, HTC Vive, and Unreal Engine.

Smart Glove for Other Industries

Besides stroke rehabilitation and VR, smart gloves can also be used for other industries, such as gaming, education, and entertainment. For example, smart gloves can be used to enhance the gaming experience by allowing the user to interact with the game world in a more realistic and immersive way. Smart gloves can also be used to create new forms of art and music by enabling the user to manipulate sounds and visuals with their hands. Smart gloves can also be used to facilitate learning and teaching by allowing the user to explore and manipulate virtual objects and environments that are otherwise inaccessible or dangerous.

Some examples of smart gloves for other industries are:

• Power Glove, developed by Nintendo in 1989. The Power Glove was one of the first attempts to create a smart glove for gaming. The Power Glove could track the hand and finger movements of the user and translate them into commands for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The Power Glove could also provide vibration feedback to the user. However, the Power Glove was not very accurate or reliable and had limited compatibility with the NES games. The Power Glove was discontinued in 1990 and became a cult classic among gamers.
• Mimic glove, developed by a UK company called BrightSign. The Mimic glove is designed to help people learn sign language. The Mimic glove can track the hand and finger movements of the user and translate them into text or speech. The Mimic glove can also provide feedback to the user, such as correcting their mistakes or teaching them new signs. The Mimic glove can be used with a smartphone app that can display the signs and words on the screen.

Conclusion

Smart glove is a revolutionary device that can enhance the user experience and improve the quality of life. The smart glove can sense and transmit the hand and finger movements of the user to a computer or a smartphone. Smart gloves can also provide feedback to the user, such as kinesthetic and tactile stimuli, that simulate touching and manipulating virtual objects. The smart glove has many potential applications in various industries, such as medicine, gaming, education, and entertainment. Smart glove is expected to grow in popularity and demand in the coming years, as more innovations and developments are made in this field.

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