Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcvax!hp4nl!philapd!ssp17!gordon
From: gordon@idca.tds.PHILIPS.nl (Gordon Booman)
Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng
Subject: Re: DataGlove
Keywords: input devices
Message-ID: <167@ssp17.idca.tds.philips.nl>
Date: 14 Jun 89 16:21:00 GMT
References: <397@eurtrx.UUCP>
Organization: Philips Telecommunication and Data Systems, The Netherlands
Lines: 33

In article <397@eurtrx.UUCP> raymond@eurtrx.UUCP (Raymond van Beekum) writes:
>... So, can someone tell me what a DataGlove is, how it works, and
>where I can find a reference to a paper dealing with the DataGlove.
>...

A DataGlove is an input device that reports the position and orientation
of your hand and the relative positions of your fingers.  It uses
directional antennas to determine the position and orientation, and
it has fiber optics along the fingers which leak light when bent;
they measure the leakage to determine the finger position.

It costs about $10K per glove.  It has an RS-232 interface, so
it can be used with any computer - you just have to write the
software to handle it ;-).  They have some programs for the Mac.

There is an article about user interfaces in the October 1987 (?)
Scientific American which discusses the DataGlove.  It's easy to
recognize the issue; the DataGlove is on the cover.  The article
is by Foley.  The article discusses some research done at NASA Ames
involving DataGloves and helmet-mounted stereo displays to create
"virtual reality" - i.e., the computer generates a 3D picture with
your hands in it; the computer generated objects respond to what
your hands do.  Amazing possibilities.

The DataGlove is also displayed in the most recent National Geographic,
and has appeared in virtually every Mac magazine at one time or another.

It is manufactured by VPL Research in Redwood City, California.

Regards,
-- 
Gordon Booman  SSP/V3   Philips TDS Apeldoorn, The Netherlands   +31 55 432785
domain: gordon@idca.tds.philips.nl             uucp:  ...!mcvax!philapd!gordon