Now, wrist sensor that controls any device with wave of hand

London - Television remotes and games controllers could be a thing of the past, as new technology can now be worn like a wristwatch.

Researchers at Newcastle University and Microsoft Research Cambridge (MSR) have developed a sensor, which tracks the 3D movement of the hand and allows the user to remotely control any device.

This means the sensor, which is worn on the wrist, enables users to control electronic items with just a wave of the hand.

Mapping finger movement and orientation, the device gives the user remote control anywhere and at anytime.

“The Digits sensor doesn’t rely on any external infrastructure so it is completely mobile. This means users are not bound to a fixed space. They can interact while moving from room to room or even running down the street. What Digits does is finally take 3D interaction outside the living room,” the Telegraph quoted David Kim, a PhD student at Newcastle University, as saying.

“We needed a system that enabled natural 3D interactions with bare hands, but with as much flexibility and accuracy as data gloves. We wanted users to be able to interact spontaneously with their electronic devices using simple gestures without even having to reach for them.

“Can you imagine how much easier it would be if you could answer your mobile phone while it’s still in your pocket or buried at the bottom of your bag?” he added.