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Thalmic Labs just released it's final design for the Myo gesture control armband for Mac, iOS and Android. The device allows a user to control an interface using arm motions and hand gestures.
Check it out here: https://www.thalmic.com/
As an iPhone and Android app design and development studio (shameless plug), Eight Bit Studios was lucky enough to get accepted into the alpha testing group a few months ago. This means we got first crack at testing and pushing the abilities and applications of the device.
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Here is a video of Brian (one of our iOS developers) controlling a little helicopter a few months ago on an iPad mini: https://vine.co/v/MKpttF3jiv7
Okay so that's not very impressive, but that was after just one afternoon of working with it.
What's the point? We see some really useful applications for this in gaming, medical, education or other sectors. There's simply no reason that Chicago firms shouldn't be on the leading front of the wearable tech movement. So we're doing something about it by getting ready for your ideas!
We are poised. Let's build something great and get Chicago back on the wearables map! If you have a startup or head up a project at your company, reach out to us!
John W Ostler (@seahostler) is Co-Founder and Principal of UX & UI at Eight Bit Studios (@eightbitstudios) a mobile and website design and development studio in Chicago. He has helped lead and produce technical and interaction design engagements with brands such as Cadbury Adams, Burger King, Motorola, Career Builder, Groupon, Exelon, Sidley Austin, and HSBC. His work has been featured in the USA Today, Brandweek, The Daily Beast, NewYork Times Tech blog, Mashable.com, homepage of Drupal.org, and featured on multiple CSS design blogs. He is also Co-Host and Executive Producer of Bytes Over Bagels, Chicago's favorite tech morning show.
