Intelligent Wearable Interfaces

CHAPTER 6

Fingertip Human–Computer Interface

6.1 INTRODUCTION

A computer is one of the most common devices in our lives now. Because of the development of mobile computing, pocket PCs or wearable computers allow computers and computer-related devices to merge human lives.

In this chapter, we discuss the advent in Micro ElectroMechanical System (MEMS) sensing and wireless technologies to develop a novel computer input system named the micro input devices system (MIDS, in short). It enables multifunctional input tasks and allows the overall shrinkage in size of the graphical user interface (GUI) interface devices (see Figure 6.1). The working principle lies on using the motion sensing technique to capture human motion and to convert the motion information to appropriate computer input commands. In terms of mobile computing, we envision MIDS to serve the functions of the current-day mouse, keyboard, and light-pen such that it will allow users to input text, draw graphical image, move curser, and perform drag-and-drop motion.

With the motion sensing ability of the MIDS, it can be further explored to measure the motion of robotic grasping manipulators and to control the grasping robot hands; hence, MIDS could replace the robotic gloves, which are currently used to interface with robot hands. The details will be shown in this chapter.

Conventional input devices, such as mouse and keyboard, and more advanced input devices, such as three-degree-of-freedom and six-degree-of-freedom controllers ...