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From: demers@m2.SRC.Honeywell.COM (Robert DeMers)
Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng
Subject: dataglove
Message-ID: <23830@srcsip.UUCP>
Date: 14 Jun 89 21:10:47 GMT
Sender: news@src.honeywell.COM
Lines: 49

I was going to email this but I thought that others might want to know.
The dataglove is a computer interface device that uses a glove to control a
virtual hand on the screen.  It is made by VPL Research Inc.

Optical fibres sense the angle of each joint of the fingers.  The hand's
position is detected by a Polhemus sensor mounted on the back of the glove.
Moving your hand allows you to manipulate objects on the screen. 

It was developed with NASA as part of their virtual environment work.  NASA
combines it with a stereo-vision system.  VPL is currently working on
fingertip vibration pads to provide a kind-of force feedback.  

Both right and left hand gloves are available, and both can be used at the
same time.  VPL currently supports the IBM PC and the Macintosh.  They also
have a product called the Datasuit, which senses several body joint angles.
I dont know if the suit is on the market yet.  A one glove system sells for
about $10k.

Company address:

VPL Rsearch Inc.
656 Bair Island Road, Suite 304
Redwood City, CA 94063
(415)361-1710

Reference Articles:

"Telepresence master glove controller for dexterous robotic end effectors"
Scott Fisher, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035
Proceedings of SPIE, vol. 726, 28-31 October 1986

Computer Design magazine
March 1, 1988

The Sciences
November/December 1987

Computer Graphics World
January, 1988

Scientific American
October, 1987

I hope that this helps.

Bob DeMers

Disclaimer: I do not work for VPL.  This data is the result of an
investigation into interface devices.