Facebook has teased a technology that is expected to be able to read the nerves on your hands. The interface is another aspect of augmented reality and is based on the creations of CTRL-labs. Facebook had bought out the company in 2019.
In one of their recent video, wristbands are shown to be able to read and understand signals from the wearer’s brain and then perform the action. The method is named electromyography. The band will also include haptic feedback, which offers a better response than just tracking the hands.
Facebook Reality Labs showcased a prototype in one of their recently published blog posts. Fundamentally, the wristbands would be tracking basic gestures or “clicks”. Microsoft has similar technology in its HoloLens. However, the information would be gleaned from the arms’ nerves.
The Idea Behind Facebook’s Technology
Theoretically, the wristbands can also translate the brain signals to your hand, meaning it can create a custom keyboard in thin air while you imaginarily type with your hands. This would forever revolutionize any interaction with computers. The original idea by CTRL-labs thought of taking it a step further: being able to type by just thinking about it.
Facebook intends to integrate it with its augmented reality glasses. In their current form, the wristbands can always be worn as well. Another feature would be the addition of haptic that will allow the user to receive various feedback from the bands.
However, Facebook reiterates that it is not mind-reading. For now, it is merely reading the action that the brain has already decided on performing. Even though it might be referred to as a type of brain-computer interface, it is vastly different than Elon Musk’s proposed neuralink. That technology involves an implant being inserted directly into the brain.
Even if it is not quite as invasive, a large amount of personal data is still bound to be collected. As such, trust issues will come hand in hand with this technology.
