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Touch Tech-Enabling Accessories

The Magic Finger by Autodesk Research Digitizes Any Surface

— October 12, 2012 — Art & Design
Nowadays, it is easy to forget that not every surface is equipped with touch technology, but that might all change thanks to the Magic Finger. The Magic Finger is an accessory that effectively attaches a small micro camera and optical flow sensor to people's index finger. It is able to distinguish between 22 different textures such as desks, pieces of paper or even skin, can recognize 2D data matrix codes and boasts a pinch function that can be programmed to trigger computer commands. It can also be used for data transfers between Magic Finger units.

The Magic Finger was developed by Autodesk Research, the University of Alberta and the University of Toronto. It has an accuracy of 98.9 percent.
Trend Themes
1. Touch Tech-enabling Accessories - More accessories will be developed to enable touch technology on any surface, creating a new level of human-computer interaction.
2. Micro Camera and Sensor Technology - Development of micro camera and sensor technology will create new opportunities to digitize and interact with the real world in innovative ways.
3. Haptic Feedback - Haptic feedback technology will be integrated into touch-enabled accessories to provide a more immersive and realistic experience for users.
Industry Implications
1. Consumer Electronics - Consumer electronics companies can develop touch-enabled accessories to expand their product lines and provide new experiences to users.
2. Automotive - Car manufacturers can incorporate touch-enabled accessories into their designs to create a more intuitive and interactive driving experience.
3. Healthcare - Touch-enabled accessories can be developed for healthcare professionals to improve patient monitoring and diagnosis processes.
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