Myo - The Gesture Control Armband

I am intensely sceptical of the Myo as a viable device. Measurement of myoelectric signals of specific muscle groups (as you would need to do to perform the 'gestures' shown in the mock-up video) requires correct placement of the contact electrodes, and this placement differs slightly for each person. A one-size-fits-all armband is very unlikely to get even the spacing right for everyone, let alone the problem that if it turns slightly on your arm it is no longer sensing the correct muscles.

Their website is devoid of any technical details, or anything more concrete than some concept renders, a video of a non-functional mockup with a 3-axis sensor embedded in it, and a pre-order button. Until they have something demonstrably working, it goes in my "concept art asking for money to do the research" box.

The whole concept sounds interesting. Unlike the Leap Motion, you could get gestures without requiring your hand(s) to be over a stationary device (although the Motion has the potential to allow more than just gestures).

However, I would agree that in the Myo's case I will need to see it in action first. And I'm the type of person to jump at new input devices...

- Dave

When I first saw the Myo promo video I was very skeptical too. Then I looked over what little info they had, and realized what it really is: functionally it's like a PSMove where finger actuation can be used like buttons. I don't think they have any ability to discern complex "gesture" or finger shape/position. Much easier to detect the coarse clench/unclench.

Still, that is not so bad, and is enough as a crude "virtual hand". I chose to use a PSMove with my Rift experiments (once that part arrives!) to provide position and grip. Myo would at least provide that. Though there can be an advantage to having something "in hand", especially if it can give some haptic feedback... even if it's only vibration.

If the Myo turns out to be something worthwhile, I could see putting together a combination of it, a gutted Razer Hydra for position/orientaion tracking and an array of cel phone vibrators for tactile feedback.

I'm not sure if anyone has seen this, but I think it would work amazingly for a combination of the rift + myo + Minuum

http://www.minuum.com

If you watch the video, at around the 1:40 mark, he shows how you can use this software to type with a ring or glasses or a watch. Very cool.

I mailed Thalmic labs a couple of weeks ago regarding the sensitivity of their device.
They said that it will be possible for the Myo to recognize a variety of handgestures and also the "strength" of the gesture.
For instance, it will recognize if you are clenching your hand softly or tightly as different inputs.
I think that sounds pretty interesting if applied in a game like Zelda where you could attack normally with your hand clenched and then do a power attack by clenching your hand tighter.

I think the technology in general has strong potential not as they are using but for a more relaxed version of immersion.
Imagine having multiple bands on your body set to amplify the impulses it detects... So you could be lying on a bed wearing an HMD and being generally stationary but the high speed augmented impulses would translate into full character motion in game.

I have pre ordered one of the units for assessment, at $150.00 it's not to big a mistake if it doesn't deliver on its promise. I am hoping to get some info on their api and dev kit in the coming weeks. The key difference here is that it's not vision based camera / irlaser tracking system ( kinect or leap) so its impossible for the sensor data to be obscured by the user or someone else.

If it is possible to capture the electrical signal generated by individual fingers from rest position ( relaxed ) to extended (pointing) or clenched (curled up ) its conceivable that one could map a RL hand into the virtual environment. A lot of this will depend on how thier api interprets electrical signal and relays this as data.

I like the concept, reminds me of the EOG eye tracking thread in the general dev forum. With "early 2014" as the next ship date, I think I'll pass on a long term pre-order and see what comes of their initial units.

Looks interesting but as others have said the site is so vague, yet allows you to pre-order. Latency, as always will be key.