As XR training continues to mature, one of the biggest and often overlooked barriers to scale is the input device. Handheld controllers were designed with games, not enterprise training in mind. As a result, they can limit immersion and force users to adapt to the technology, rather than the other way around.
But there’s a new player in enterprise XR input (though not new to immersive tech) – StretchSense. Founded over a decade ago in New Zealand, they made their name in film and game production. StretchSense motion capture gloves have been used by the world’s leading game development studios on blockbuster titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, in films, and even in music videos for global icons like Snoop Dogg.
Heritage like that matters.
This same company, who redefined hand and finger motion capture for games and film, is applying their expertise to enterprise XR training, and with it, they’re promising to transform the way high-stakes industries prepare their people.
From controllers to muscle memory
Controllers will always have a place – they’re familiar, widely used, and much loved. But in real life training scenarios, they’re also limited. The real breakthrough in XR training comes from building muscle memory. When trainees can rehearse actual, real-world gestures, like a hand signal in defence training, or applying pressure to a wound in a medical simulation, they create the right neural pathways for fast recall and effective decision-making in the field.
By contrast, controllers often require trainees to translate natural actions into artificial button presses. This isn’t just a barrier to immersion; it can potentially result in negative training.
StretchSense have recently launched their Reality XR Gloves to move XR training forward. “The gloves represent an evolution beyond controllers towards natural, more effective training experiences.” explains StretchSense’s CEO, Chris Chapman.
“With confirmatory haptics trainees can ‘feel’ when they touch a virtual object – like feeling clicks as they turn a control switch,” says Chris.
Onboarding made simple
“With controllers, there’s a learning curve. Trainees have to learn how to use the controller before they can even start training on the task at hand. This slows down training and speeds up frustration,” says Chris. “Our gloves make onboarding almost instant. You put them on and that’s it. Users don’t have to “learn the tech.” They just start moving as they would in real life,” says Chris.
StretchSense has seen this play out in training environments where glove-based input has helped to reduce onboarding time by as much as 75% in some cases. Faster onboarding means trainees spend more time building skills and competence.
Designed for enterprise
The StretchSense Reality XR Glove is full of enterprise-ready features:
- 32 precision sensors for detailed finger and wrist tracking
- Machine learning gesture recognition that emulates controller outputs
- Confirmatory haptics to reinforce correct actions
- 20-hour battery life, wireless connectivity, and PPE-friendly design
- Virtual joystick functionality for seamless navigation
- Bluetooth 5.0 with a 5-metre wireless range, no dongle needed
- OpenXR and SteamVR compatibility with leading headsets (Vive, PICO, Tundra; Meta Quest strap sold separately)
- Available in four sizes (XS–L)
- No magnetic interference, ensuring compatibility in sensitive environments
“It was important to back up the technical features of our gloves with a design that was really focused on comfort. The gloves have exposed fingertips so they’re ideal for mixed reality training when you need finger dexterity and freedom,” says Chris.
“Our gloves are also the lightest on the market – they’re made from a soft knit fabric that can be worn underneath PPE. The stretchable sensors make them robust and hardwearing, and they’re machine washable so it’s easy to keep them clean,” says Chris.
The next frontier of XR training
Visual fidelity in XR has advanced rapidly. The StretchSense team are confident that the next leap isn’t in what we see, it’s in how we interact. With their pedigree in gaming and film, and sights firmly set on enterprise training, StretchSense are championing organisations to take that leap.
When input becomes natural and invisible, XR finally delivers on its promise of a training scenario that feels real for the trainee, and transfers skills seamlessly from the training room to the field.
Learn more at stretchsense.com
