Researchers at Meta have developed a wristwatch-like gadget that can engage with devices using hand motions or even thoughts. As detailed in a blog entry, this Bluetooth gadget enables users to control a computer with their hand comfortably resting at their side. It allows tasks such as cursor movement and message typing by forming letters in the air. The device employs “surface electromyography,” a non-invasive technique to track muscle electrical activity.

“According to our research, we think that surface electromyography (sEMG) at the wrist is crucial for initiating the next transformative change in human-computer interaction (HCI),” the company mentioned in the blog post.

Meta’s researchers also released a paper in the Nature scientific journal, describing the technology as “a general non-invasive neuromotor interface that facilitates computer input decoded from surface electromyography (sEMG).”

As per Meta researchers, this progress is mainly attributed to machine learning and AI. “Our neural networks have been trained on data from thousands of consenting research subjects, which enables them to be extremely accurate in interpreting subtle gestures across a diverse group of individuals,” the Meta blog entry stated.

Meta asserts that the device can even detect the intention to execute a gesture, permitting control through thought alone. Thomas Reardon, one of the research paper’s authors, informed the New York Times, “You don’t need to physically move…You only need to intend the move.”

The wrist device has the potential to improve computer accessibility for those with mobility constraints, as it is less intrusive than technologies like Neuralink, which necessitate brain implants.

Meta’s blog post did not specify a name, cost, or release date for the device, suggesting it is more experimental than ready for widespread market availability. Updates will be shared if there are any changes.