Essential Reality is about to start shipping a wireless dataglove called the P5 . The device is mounted on the hand like a glove, and sends motion information via infrared to a base station up to four feet away, so that the user doesn't have to be tethered by a cable. While traditional gamepads and keyboard interfaces can control only two degrees of freedom, the P5 can control six. Here are the specifications. According to the FAQ, the device will be priced at $129.

• Homepage: http://www.essentialreality.com/products.html
• Datasheet: http://www.essentialreality.com/P5_specifications.html
• FAQ: http://www.essentialreality.com/discussion.html
• Price: about 129 USD
• when: Q2 (April-June) of 2002

Preliminary Specifications Finger Sensor Specs:

• 5 Independent finger measurements
• 60 Hz refresh rate
• Thumb-Index Abduction
• 0.5 degree resolution (0-90 degree range)

Tracking System Specs:

• Patent pending optical tracking system
  • 3-4 foot range from "docking station" that allows unlimited range from monitor/game console
  • 60 Hz refresh rate
  • 6 degrees of freedom (yaw\pitch\roll\x\y\z)
  • Yaw\Pitch\Roll Specs
    • 1 degree resolution
    • 1 degree accuracy
    • X\Y\Z Specs
    • 0.125 inch resolution @ 3foot range from "docking station" that allows unlimited range from monitor/game console
    • 0.5 inch accuracy @ 3 foot range from "docking station" that allows unlimited range from monitor/game console

Unique desk mounted docking station:

• No power cord required
• Easy on/off removal system

USB System Specs:

• USB 1.1 compliant
• HID Specification compliant
• 2 USB Interfaces provided - Native P5 Mode, and Standard Mouse mode

in the news

It has recently been covered by Nooface. Check out the comments!

From the FAQ:

"The P5 DOES detect where your hand is in space. Besides capturing the finger bends, it users our tracker technology to follow your hand in 3D space as well as set recognized gestures."

"feel free to come by and use the product at the upcoming GDC in San Jose. We had many people using the P5 at the past CES show. Thanks. "

"Essential Reality has plans on releasing an easy open SDK."

"We plan to distribute P5 through consumer electronics and video game retailers, both on- and off-line."

-- MarcusWolschon - 01 Apr 2002