A collaboration between Autodesk Research, the University of Alberta, and the University of Toronto has recently unveiled the ‘Magic Finger‘ prototype. The unique input device is a ring that attaches to a user’s finger to allow for the use of different surfaces as a touch interface. This can be used to control laptops, PC or smartphones of all kinds. the Magic Finger is comprised of “two optical sensors, a low resolution high speed sensor for tracking movement and a high resolution camera that can detect 22 different surface textures with 98.9% accuracy.”
According to the makers of the device, the little gadget is worn on the fingertip and “supports always-available input. Magic Finger inverts the typical relationship between the finger and an interactive surface. With Magic Finger we instrument the user’s finger itself, rather than the surface it is touching.”
A report in Gizmag states that Magic Finger has the ability to recognize different surfaces with seamlessly and with ease. This allows the possibility for the device to be programmed to use specific surfaces as an interface and ignore others based on user settings. What is interesting about this is that a user could program the Magic Device to work on a specific surface like a wooden desk and not on other surfaces as they see fit. This would prevent the user from mistakenly turning on an app on their phone when they touch a light switch but would allow it to work if they tapped their desk, meaning they could wear the device without fear of accidental activation.
Source: psfk
Photo: Gizmag