MUV Interactive has launched the public sale of the Bird input device, which is described by the company as "a tiny wearable for your finger that makes any space interactive."
The Bird is a small plastic device that users can wear on their index finger. The device features several sensors and combines with either a TV or a projector at a distance of up to 300 inches to transform spaces into seemingly massive touchscreens.
However, there is no actual touch involved when using the Bird. Users will be moving their fingers in space to move, click, and anything else that an input device such as a touchscreen or mouse would do. It would not be hard to do so to, as the Bird has a weight of only 20 grams, which is just one-tenth the weight of an iPhone 6.
The Bird's partner app utilizes several plug-ins to function as a controller for different devices, including drones and smart appliances. Instead of flying a drone using its remote control, for instance, users can do so using the Bird on their own hands.
While the Bird is not the first device entering the gesture-based input industry, most of the uses of the other devices have been largely limited to gaming and TV functions. For instance, there is the Nintendo Wii, the Microsoft Kinect and the Myo Gesture Control Armband.
MUV CEO and co-founder Rami Parham hopes that the Bird can have much wider applications, envisioning the device finding usage in business presentations, classrooms and living rooms.
"It can seamlessly replace multiple input devices," Parham said, adding that the device works by having the Bird's various sensors and cameras send information to the wearable's base unit. The base unit then runs several algorithms and then issues the final commands through a Bluetooth connection.
The Bird also has a microphone for voice-issued commands, and a capacitive touch surface controlled by the user's thumb for registering swipes and taps.
The device is compatible with any computer running on either Windows or OS X. The Bird can also work with mobile devices powered by Android or iOS.
The Bird will have a promotional price of only $150 for the first 15,000 devices, after which the regular price of $250 will kick in. According to MUV, the company has already sold more than 15,000 units, mostly to customers in the business sector.
