The Zerkin Glove – Touching the Future, Now

With all the buzz about multiple AR news announcements (ARML, Layar 3D, Vuzix contest),  Noah Zerkin’s glove/tracking project got lost.  Hopefully I can shed some much deserved light on what this one-man show is doing.

Noah has been working on an interactive glove that could be used as an augmented reality interface since early this year.  The video shows how he built the glove in less than a day for under $300. 

Noah lists more details on his new website – Zerkin Glove.

What is the Zerkin Glove?

A low-cost, motion and position capturing, data glove for 3D interaction with virtual objects in augmented reality (AR) environments.

What do you mean, really?
The Zerkin Glove, is the most intuitive input device using natural hand gestures – like you’ve only seen in sci-fi movies – with a consumer friendly price.
The glove enables accurate 1-to-1 tracking of one’s entire arm – from shoulder to knuckles – without external reference infrastructure (such as cameras, sensors, scanners) allowing intuitive interaction with virtual objects in augmented reality environments such as games, education, 3D design, training, healthcare and more.

Why is it important?
Augmented reality applications, which promise to change the way people interact with the world, have been largely focused on augmenting one’s field of view with additional information. The Zerkin glove is the missing element for enhancing the interaction in any handsfree mobile AR application.

How does it work?
Thanks to the use of inexpensive off-the-shelf components such as flex sensors, gyros, accelerometer, and compass headings, the glove precisely tracks the slightest gestures in the augmented reality space. Based on a proprietary patent-pending method. The graphics are overlaid relative to fiducial markers using AR tracking software. A pair of see-through AR glasses complements the experience as display for a first person perspective.

Noah is looking for investors, developers and fans.  I can’t help with the first two (unless they happen to read this post), but count me in as a fan.  Good luck and hopefully I’ll get to see the glove at ISMAR.