The award-winning team of researchers and developers behind the Smart Glove – Haptic Human Computer Interface System for virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) and robotics - will showcase their technology at CES (the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas on 9th-12th January 2018.
The smart glove was developed as part of an innovative project between the Wireless Sensor Networks group at Tyndall National Institute, Ireland, project leads Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG) in Waterford Institute of Technology, and with Bray based, Product and Interaction Design Consultancy, Design Partners, engaged as human factors engineering and industrial design experts. The solution was developed with global manufacturers of wearable technology to create a device that transports people’s hands into the virtual world providing them with a fully immersive, touch-sensitive experience.
Funded by Enterprise Ireland as part of its Commercialization Fund Scheme, the smart glove integrates all the required sensors, actuators and associated software data fusion algorithms which allow humans to seamlessly interface with, and engage in VR/AR applications for the first time. Precise, auto-calibrated position, movement and hand biomechanical data is provided in real time with state-of-the-art latency performance.
Head of Tyndall’s Wireless Sensor Networks group, Dr Brendan O'Flynn, comments: “Thanks to the collaboration with Design Partners at CES, we are demonstrating globally-leading Irish technology and research. CES attracts over 170,000 attendees over three days and provides an ideal opportunity to showcase the world-class research being carried out in Ireland through collaboration between academic institutes, national funding agencies and leading Irish technology companies.”
The smart data capture glove is the only glove of its kind to incorporate the level of sensing hardware and software required to provide low-latency data throughput. It has been designed according to ergonomic drivers and is robust, low-cost, easy to use, wear and wash.
Director of Innovation at TSSG, Kevin Doolin, comments: “the smart glove shows how collaboration between experts in hardware and software can lead to game-changing products being developed by Irish R&D Institutes. This is a key technology enabler unlocking the ability to create truly immersive VR experiences across a variety of sectors and is making a significant impact with some of the largest technology companies.”
Prototypes of the glove have been used by surgeons for medical training in a virtual environment, and it is a powerful enabler of smart factory technologies as well as social media and consumer gaming interfaces.
The smart glove can also be used for remote-learning, as well as helping educators work in a virtual environment allowing students learn from gold-standard experts in their field. This technology can also be used for sports coaching, musicianship or any other learning environment where precise movements are essential.
The Smart Glove will be demonstrated at the Design Partners Booth #60108, Tech East in the new Design and Source Showcase at CES 2018.
About Tyndall
Tyndall National Institute is a leading European research centre in integrated ICT (Information and Communications Technology) hardware and systems. Central to Tyndall’s mission is delivering economic impact through research excellence. We work with industry and academia to transform research into products in our core market areas of agri-food, communications, energy, environment and health.
As the national institute for photonics and micro/nanoelectronics, Tyndall, at University College Cork, employs over 500 researchers, engineers and support staff, with a cohort of 120 full-time graduate students. Together we generated over 270 peer-reviewed publications in 2016.
About Design Partners
Design Partners are a global strategic product and interaction design consultancy, with dedicated divisions in Industrial, Healthcare and Consumer products. For over 30 years, our multi-disciplinary team has been tuning-in to the needs of ambitious clients to bring best-selling and award-winning product experiences to life. Our in-house engineering and prototyping capability drive an integrated approach to deliver a complete, end-to-end customer journey. We are certified to ISO13485 and ISO9001.
About TSSG
TSSG is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for ICT research and innovation. We carry out a wide spectrum of industry-informed research in Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), particularly technologies enabling communications and information services.
Our four key prioritised technical Research areas include Mobile Platforms and Services, Data Analytics and Social computing, Adaptive Networks and services, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR). We create economic impact by translating our knowledge base and innovation into leading edge products and services by continuing our engagement with Industry in collaborative R&D, knowledge generation and transfer.
Over the past five years, TSSG has delivered innovative solutions to over 210 start-ups based in Ireland and has worked extensively with multinationals such as IBM and Cisco through its world class research programmes, such as the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Connect Centre. TSSG has also created 14 spin out companies in the South East including the award winning FeedHenry, a groundbreaking mobile cloud platform company (acquired by RedHat NYSE: RHT in 2014 for €65 million), and KodaCall a new ‘Click to Call’ Technology.