Meta is working on a groundbreaking device — a wristband that allows you to control a computer using hand gestures. Users can, among other things, move the cursor, open applications, or write in the air as if holding a pen. This is not a futuristic vision — it's technology that already works in laboratories.
Unlike classic controllers, it doesn't require any buttons or touch interfaces. A slight finger movement or even the intention to make a movement is enough.
How does the sEMG technology work?
The secret of the band lies in the use of surface electromyography (sEMG) — a technique that detects electrical signals generated by muscle activity. The device analyses these micro-signals and translates them into specific commands, even before the user physically moves their hand.
As noted in a study published in the journal Nature, this technology can predict movements with surprising accuracy, paving the way for entirely new opportunities for interaction with machines.
Help for People with Paralysis and an Alternative to Neuralink?
One of the key goals of the project is to support people with disabilities. Meta is conducting tests in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, where the device has been tested on patients with spinal cord injuries.
Prof. Douglas Weber emphasises that even in individuals with complete hand paralysis, muscle activity can be detected — and this is enough for the device to interpret their intentions. This enables writing messages, operating a computer, or communicating with their surroundings — without the need to speak or move.
Unlike other non-invasive solutions, such as EEG headsets, the Meta device operates faster and more accurately, as sEMG uses stronger muscle signals than EEG from the brain.
This is also a significantly less invasive alternative to controversial projects like Elon Musk's Neuralink, which involves surgically implanting chips into the brain. The Meta device works without surgery, is potentially cheaper and easier to produce — and is ready for everyday use.
And what about the future?
Although the band is still in the testing phase, Meta sees it as not just a medical tool but also a component of future augmented and virtual reality interfaces. The ability to control applications, write and draw in the air, or play games without holding anything in hand could become the new standard.
If sEMG technology goes mainstream, we are in for a new way of interacting with technology — without keyboards, touch screens, and mice.
