NEC's tech can now turn your arm into a virtual keyboard

BANGALORE, INDIA: In recent years, smart glasses have been introduced that enable users to perform operations at sites without using their hands, the things we used to see in sci-fi films only.

But NEC has turned some of those sci-fi fantasies into reality by developing ARmKeypad Air which uses smart glasses to turn the arm of a wearer into a virtual keyboard.

The ARmKeypad Air is ideal for professions where wearing devices on the arm is not advisable, such as those carrying out medical procedures under sterilized conditions, free of direct contact with objects and clothes, etc.

In November 2015, NEC introduced a trial model of the ARmKeypad, using smart glasses together with a modified watch to turn the arm of a wearer into a virtual keyboard by recognizing contact (vibration) operations.

But the ARmKeypad Air has gone a step ahead. The new ARmKeypad Air uses Augmented Reality (AR) to create the image of a virtual keyboard on the forearm of a wearer and the movement of a wearer’s finger is taken as input.

Yukio Maruyama, Assistant General Manager, System Integration & Services Market Development Division, NEC Corporation said, “Moving forward, NEC will use the ARmKeypad and ARmKeypad Air to help improve workplace efficiency in sectors where hands-free operation is required, such as manufacturing, medicine, security, and distribution.”