To promote and share this project, I would first focus on a small target audience that could benefit from the device and provide valuable feedback for future improvements.
The project objectives defined at the beginning were successfully completed. The textile components of the glove were designed and fabricated, a wrist-mounted structure was developed to support the electronic components, a custom PCB was designed and manufactured, and the flex sensors were successfully integrated into the wearable system.
In addition, a graphical user interface was developed to display the detected words, and reliable WiFi communication was established between the glove and the computer. The flex sensors provide analog readings that are converted into finger states, allowing gesture combinations to be translated into predefined words and phrases.
Throughout the development process, I gained experience in areas that were new to me, particularly electronics design and textile fabrication. I also learned how different digital fabrication technologies can be combined to create a functional assistive device following the maker philosophy of designing, building, testing, and improving.
This project does not claim to invent the concept of a smart glove for gesture translation, since similar systems have already been developed by companies, universities, and research groups. More advanced solutions already exist that incorporate technologies such as machine learning, computer vision, and larger numbers of sensors.
The contribution of this project lies in the development of a low-cost prototype fabricated using digital fabrication technologies and based on a simplified approach. Unlike many existing solutions that use five or more flex sensors, this glove uses three active flex sensors and a state-based gesture recognition system to generate words and phrases while reducing hardware complexity.
One of the main questions that still needs to be addressed is how to make the system more discreet and comfortable for everyday use, as discussed in Week 17. Although the current prototype successfully demonstrates the concept and functionality of the glove, there is still room for improvement in terms of wearability, appearance, and user experience.
Future developments will focus on refining both the electronic and textile aspects of the project. The electronic system could be redesigned to reduce its overall size and improve integration within the glove. Additional components such as operational amplifiers (op-amps) could be incorporated to reduce signal noise and improve the accuracy and stability of the flex sensor readings.
The power management system could also be improved. The current prototype operates using a power bank, which was a practical solution during development. However, future iterations could explore more compact and wearable power solutions that better integrate with the overall design while maintaining adequate operating time.
The textile design can also be improved by exploring alternative fabrics. While leatherette provided a practical material for prototyping, it can become warm and uncomfortable during extended use. Future iterations could evaluate lighter and more breathable textiles to increase comfort. Furthermore, reducing the size and number of rigid structural components would improve flexibility, ergonomics, and the overall appearance of the device.
Beyond hardware improvements, future work may also include expanding the vocabulary available in the glove, improving the graphical interface, and exploring more advanced gesture recognition techniques while maintaining the project's low-cost and accessible design philosophy.
Mission accomplished! 😊