Facebook Designs Augmented Reality Bracelet

Control your computers with the power of your mind

2
Facebook-Designs-Augmented-Reality-Bracelet
Augmented RealityLatest News

Published: March 29, 2021

Rebekah Carter

Rebekah Carter

Leaders in technology innovation and social media platforms, Facebook, is investing in some cutting-edge technology. The team has now designed a wristband that can translate the motor signals in your brain into commands for digital objects. In other words, you can control digital elements just by thinking about th.

The wristband is a chunky device that uses sensors to detect the movements you’re intending to make before you make them. The technology behind this incredible functionality is electromyography, which detects electrical activity from motor nerves as they transmit information to your hands from your brain. According to Facebook, this tech will be the next step in AR navigation. With the sensor technology, users will navigate menus just by thinking about moving their hand to the scrolling icon.

An Exciting Step Forward in Augmented Reality

Facebook’s augmented reality bracelet sensors could represent an exciting step forward for AR. As you may already know, the magic of augmented reality is that it allows you to overlay digital content into a real-world environment.

Although the initial examples of AR technology appeared in the entertainment landscape, the solution is rapidly proving its value in the enterprise space too. AR glasses can provide information to engineers in real-time, or help users view blueprints when working on a project. If the sensor-packed wristbands from Facebook work the way they’re intended to, they could make interacting with digital reality an even more immersive experience.

The creation of this AR wearable seems to have been in the making for some time, perhaps since Facebook purchased CTRL-Labs in 2019. Notably, CTRL was working on its own wrist-based control device before the purchase. Leader Thomas Reardon notes that the technology isn’t about “mind control” but giving users more freedom to interact with digital environments through thought.

The arrival of the new AR controller is the second announcement from Facebook focusing on the AR environment lately. Earlier in March 2021, Facebook also announced that its AR glasses were set to respond to immediate environments. For instance, looking at your coffee shop as you walk past might trigger the glasses to ask whether you want to send an order request.

What’s Next for Facebook AR?

With technology as advanced as mind-controlled AR already appearing in the landscape, there’s virtually no limit to what companies can accomplish with AR. This is particularly true in Facebook’s case, as the company has plenty of technology know-how and investment opportunity.

Facebook plans on revealing haptic gloves later in the year. Mark Zuckerberg has been investing consistently in AR and virtual reality, noting that products like these can offer access to a lot of valuable data. In the example of the coffee shop above, advertisers could potentially discover what kind of products you like to buy, and even where you live. This means that while customers might appreciate the immersive experience Facebook can offer, there’s likely to be some concern about how security, privacy, and protection will be handled.

 

AR Smart GlassesSecurity
Featured

Share This Post