by A group of stroke survivors in British Columbia will be testing out a revolutionary smart glove this month, designed to enhance their recovery and ultimately restore the use of their limbs and hands. Developed by UBC electrical and computer engineering professor Dr. Peyman Servati and his team at start-up Texavie, the glove incorporates a network of highly sensitive sensor yarns and pressure sensors woven into a comfortable, stretchy fabric. This allows the glove to track, capture, and wirelessly transmit even the smallest hand and finger movements.
Dr. Janice Eng, a leading stroke rehabilitation specialist and professor of medicine at UBC, along with her team, will supervise the stroke survivors as they undergo rehabilitation exercises while wearing the smart glove. One of the major advantages of this technology is its ability to monitor patients’ hand and finger movements without the need for cameras. Instead, the glove uses machine learning models to accurately determine the angles of all finger joints and wrist movements with at least 99% accuracy.
This groundbreaking smart glove offers several advantages over existing products on the market. It is wireless, comfortable, and can easily be washed after removing the battery. Additionally, Dr. Servati and his team have developed advanced manufacturing methods to produce the smart glove and related apparel at a relatively low cost locally. With ongoing improvements and collaborations with different industrial partners, Dr. Servati envisions a seamless transition of the glove into the consumer market.
The potential applications of this technology are vast. The smart glove could be used in virtual reality, augmented reality, animation, and robotics. The ability to accurately capture hand movements and interactions with objects and display them automatically on a screen opens up endless possibilities. Individuals could type text without a physical keyboard, control robots, or even translate American Sign Language into written speech in real time. This technology has the potential to greatly enhance communication for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The innovative smart glove offers hope for stroke patients who are seeking to regain mobility in their hands and fingers. By accurately tracking their movements, healthcare professionals can analyze and fine-tune rehabilitation programs for optimal results. The glove also has the potential to be used remotely, allowing patients to continue their exercises from the comfort of their own homes. With further development and improvements, this smart glove could revolutionize the rehabilitation process for stroke survivors and potentially impact the lives of individuals with other mobility impairments as well.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
