MYO gesture control armband gains 30k preorders

Gesture technology has come a long way. Just far enough to leave room for more improvement. Since the Wii’s Remote and the Xbox Kinect, the idea of using body movements to make your gaming experience more immersible is still pretty awesome. Thalmic Labs, though, are taking things to the next level it seems and has raised more than US$14.5-million. The MYO is a stylish, light armband that “let’s you add gesture control to everything.”

You can posses devices can ranging from desktop computers, smartphones and tablets to other robotic devices such as drones or the very lovable Sphero robot ball.

On top of the fact that this super-tech could change the way you interact with technology, it simply looks cool and casual. It blends in like a sweatband would and doesn’t seem like another novelty. No need to fear sticky keyboards after friends visit ever again. It’s not a device you need to crawl into or need to balance on your forehead. You simply strap this casual-looking light armband to your forearm and your off.

This amazing video shows simplistic yet universal movements and gestures being used to sway computers to the users’ will. For example, the one guy simply snaps his finger and the music starts playing on his computer. Or, you can use cowboys-and-crooks gestures to play Mass Effect. The MYO armband lets you control computing devices in an accurate and sensitive manner. It reads the electrical activity of your muscles to track the movement of your hands or fingers.

According to Cnet, Thalmic Labs says that this technology will be compatible with iOS, Windows and Android. One things that the popular Kickstarting campaign has shown us is that hardware and gaming fans will support their dear industry. This, though, is the other major thing that sets the MYO apart from the rest of its gesture competitors.

Its funding and promotion wasn’t showcased on Kickstarter like you’d imagine. Instead Thalmic Labs took the more traditional pre-order route. As reported by TechCrunch, Thalmic Labs says that the company doesn’t want to find itself in a situation where it’s “holding people’s money hostage and they’re pounding on [the company’s] doors.” Basically, unlike the usual Kickstarter campaigns, Thalmic Labs doesn’t want to be pressured by anxious fans and then rushing the production of an unfinished product. Since last year it has gathered the massive US$14.5-million through preorders from more than 30 000 future gesture acolytes.

The MYO gesture armband is available for US$149 and will be shipped early next year.

Image via CNET.