Meta’s Experimental Neural Wristband Could Let You Type Simply by Thinking

February 27, 2024

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Wearable technology is helping businesses find new ways to engage with their customers. At a time when Apple’s Vision Pro is making progress in what the company refers to as “spatial computing,” Meta appears to be developing a wristband with neural-machine interfaces. This device detects neural signals passing through your arm’s nerves to track your hand and finger movements.

It employs the non-invasive technique known as electromyography (EMG). Basically, a wristband controller allows you to type by simply thinking. This is more than just a fancy device that allows you to move a mouse or game controller. Meta appears to have a broad vision for this technology. However, more information about the company’s vision is still awaited.

Interestingly, this is not a new development. Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta presented it as an experimental prototype in 2021. During a recent interview with the Morning Brew Daily podcast, Zuckerberg stated that he is working to bring this technology to consumers. “We have been working on this for a while; it is not a one-year project. But we’ve been working on it for a few years now, and we’re getting close to having something, a product, in the next few years,” he said during the interaction.

This contrasts with Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which requires chips to be implanted in the brain. In his interview, Zuckerberg stated that the human nervous system has several spare bandwidths that can be used to send control inputs without requiring any significant physical movements.

Meta’s neural wristband is likely to revolutionise AR/VR, as this experimental control will soon become a real product that allows users to type simply by thinking. All of this without invasive brain implants. The device uses electromyography (EMG) to direct electrical signals from the brain to the fingers, allowing for finger tracking and control.

According to reports, Zuckerberg envisions a future in which users can communicate in real time via a private and discrete interface by simply thinking or using minimal hand movements. This could transform human-computer interaction by providing a secure and efficient input method for AR glasses and other devices.