Companies are exploring new ways to engage with users using wearable technology. Now that Apple’s Vision Pro is making strides in what the company calls “spatial computing,” Meta appears to be working on a wristband with a neural machine interface. This is a device that tracks the movements of your hands and fingers by detecting nerve signals that pass through the nerves in your arm.
It uses a non-invasive technique known as electromyography (EMG). Essentially, wristband controllers allow you to type by just thinking. This is more than just a fancy device for moving your mouse or game controller. Meta seems to have a grand vision for this technology. However, further details regarding the company’s vision are awaited.
Interestingly, this is not a recent occurrence. Mark Zuckerberg’s meta introduced it as an experimental prototype in 2021. Zuckerberg said in a recent interview on the Morning Brew Daily podcast that he is committed to bringing this technology to consumers. “We’ve been working on this for a while, and this is not a one-year project. We’re getting closer to getting a ,” he was heard saying during the exchange.
This is in contrast to Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which requires a chip to be implanted in the brain. Zuckerberg pointed out in the interview that the human nervous system has some spare bandwidth that allows it to send control inputs using signaling without making large physical movements.
Why is it important?
Meta’s neural wristband has the potential to revolutionize AR/VR, as this experimental control will soon become a real product, allowing users to input by just thinking. All of this is done without invasive brain implants. The device uses EMG to guide electrical signals from the brain to the finger, allowing it to be tracked and controlled.
Zuckerberg reportedly envisions a future where users can communicate in real time through a private, personalized interface with minimal thought or hand movement. This provides a private and efficient input method for AR glasses and other devices, potentially revolutionizing human-computer interaction.
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Date first uploaded: February 27, 2024, 12:01 IST
