Meta is working on a groundbreaking device — a wristband that allows users 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 is technology that is already functioning in laboratories.
Unlike classic controllers, it does not require any buttons or a touch interface. A small finger movement or even the intention to make a movement is enough.
How does 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 analyzes 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 remarkable precision, opening up entirely new possibilities for interacting 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 was tested on patients with spinal cord injuries.
Prof. Douglas Weber emphasizes that even in individuals with complete paralysis of the hands, muscular activity can be detected — which is enough for the device to interpret their intentions. This enables writing messages, operating a computer, or communicating with the environment — without the need to speak or move.
Unlike other non-invasive solutions, such as EEG headsets, the Meta device works faster and more precisely because sEMG uses stronger muscle signals than EEG uses from the brain.
It 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 operates without surgery, is potentially cheaper and easier to produce — and is also ready for everyday use.
And what about the future?
Although the band is still in the testing phase, Meta sees it not only as a medical tool but also as an element 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, touchscreens, and mice.
