Don’t Forget Your ‘Smart’ Gloves

The following article provides a brief overview of wearable ‘smart’ glove technology in 2018.

Times have changed and I don’t dare go outside in this 21^st century ‘Information Age’ without being properly dressed. Aside from putting on my wearable ‘smart’ hat, I also grab my ‘smart’ glasses, ‘smart’ walking stick, ‘smart’ shirt, ‘smart’ ring, ‘smart’ socks… and nowadays I also make sure I slip on my ‘smart’ gloves.

‘Smart’ Gloves: Hi-Tech wireless ‘smart’ gloves have emerged for use in homes and on the factory floor. One of the first pair of wired ‘smart’ gloves made available to home users back in 1987 was the Power Glove designed as a gaming glove for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

The following are links to a few selected articles you might want to check out about ‘smart’ gloves:

• 'Smart' GoGlove that controls Apps on your Smartphone - GoGlove is a bluetooth-enabled pair of ‘smart’ gloves that is designed for Android and iOS devices. Sensors are located in each of the fingertips that allow users to program what phone functions and apps each fingertip controls.
• The Nuada 'smart' glove gives your hand Bionic Powers - In addition to letting you perform day-to-day tasks, the Nuada ‘smart’ glove contains electronic tendons that allow you to perform nearly superhuman feats. A built-in sensor also tells doctors and users about their pull strength, dexterity, and other metrics.
• Heat 3 Smart Layer System Gloves - The insulated Heat 3 Smart Layer System gloves, originally designed for European Special Forces, are built to keep your hands warm in the coldest places on earth. They also feature conductive pointer fingers, middle fingers and thumbs to operate touch screens on smartphones and other devices.
• RAPAEL Smart Glove by NEOFECT - The RAPAEL ‘Smart’ Glove is a high-tech physical rehabilitation device designed for patients with neurological and musculoskeletal injuries that can be used anytime, anywhere.
• CaptoGove - One of the world's first wireless ‘smart’ gloves for computer gaming and links to various other smart systems. It is one of the first wearable hand-machine interface devices.
• Pro Glove Wearables for Industry 4.0 - Today, ProGlove wearable ‘smart’ gloves are being tested by John Deere, BMW, Festo, Audi and over another 100 other organizations looking for new technologies to further enable Industry 4.0

‘Smart’ gloves are just one more addition to the growing number of wearable systems. They are still in the early stages of development and deployment. But stay tuned! The next generation of ‘smart’ gloves are already being designed and tested.