The innovation challenge is to develop functional prototypes based on the patented invention of an ambitious wearable data-input peripheral.

THE INVENTION:

The wearable is a portable electronic device for manual data entry that, thanks to generating electromagnetic circuits through the hand via inducement of minimal, harmless, and imperceptible electromagnetic currents, is capable:
- firstly, of detecting, differentiating, and interpreting touches between the thumb (instrumented with a sensored thimble) and the rest of the fingers (the index one with a sensored ring),
- and secondly, of converting the thumb-to-finger touches into characters, symbols, commands, or positioning data that are wirelessly sent to a standard electronic/computing device such as a computer, a tablet PC or a smartphone.

The invention fundamentally consists of a thimble with external sensors (facing outwards) and an index-finger ring with internal sensors (in permanent contact with the skin of the finger). The objective of the device is to allow writing and transmitting all types of data, discrete or continuous, with just one hand and without having to look, with the ultimate goal of replacing and integrating most of the current input peripherals (keyboards, mice, touch panels...). In other words, it can be understood as an advanced handheld keyboard and mouse, but comprising minimal instrumentation (just a thimble and a ring; it is not a glove ).

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:

The inventive concept is a strongly patented technology protected with a granted European Patent, a favorable PCT and over 20 national patents, most of them already granted (e.g. those of United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Spain...) and some still pending of grant (e.g. USA, China, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore...). This solid international intellectual property, created and managed by our company, is just a starting point. To make the invention a reality, we now need strong suppliers of complementary innovation, creativity, energy and technical expertise.

BUDGET:

40.000 EUR (maximum).
This budget would be also covering cost of all electronic components and other elements included in the prototypes.

TIMELINE:

The project must be finished before end 2024.

FUNDING:

Funding comes from an awarded grant after having participated in an Innovation competitive call under the "Activa Startups" framework, a scheme using EU Next-Generation Funds to promote collaboration between emerging companies / startups and established SMEs with innovative potential.
Advantages and innovation
ADVANTAGES:

Differentiating characteristics associated to the invented data-input wearable are multiple:
• Capture of information with only one hand and without the need of having to look at the device.
• Suppression of the keyboard (and even the mouse) by a significantly smaller and more portable device.
• Comfortability and ease of use, as the device implies minimal occlusion of the natural skin surface of the hand since it is neither a complex bulky device nor a full hand-covering glove but just a thimble and a ring connected to each other.
• Full one-hand wearability: just a thimble and a ring worn on a hand; no need of additional not-worn 3rd elements such as cameras or additional sensors.
• If used with smart phones, possible elimination of all popup virtual keyboards that continually appear and disappear slaving a big part of our mobile screens.

The above advantages are especially valuable for people suffering from impairments in visual and manual abilities. This is why this new human-machine interface could become the highly inclusive and integrative innovation that finally manages to definitively bring information technologies closer to any person, regardless of his/her age or visual and manual skills.
Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
HARDWARE, BIOELECTRONICS ENGINEERING.

Ideally with experience in projects related to micro electromagnetic currents through human body tissue and to bioelectrical impedance analysis.