A Wireless Hand Grip Device for Motion and Force Analysis

Abstract

A prototype portable device that allows for simultaneous hand and fingers motion and precise force measurements has been. Wireless microelectromechanical systems based on inertial and force sensors are suitable for tracking bodily measurements. In particular, they can be used for hand interaction with computer applications. Our interest is to design a multimodal wireless hand grip device that measures and evaluates this activity for ludic or medical rehabilitation purposes. The accuracy and reliability of the proposed device has been evaluated against two different commercial dynamometers (Takei model 5101 TKK, Constant 14192-709E). We introduce a testing application to provide visual feedback of all device signals. The combination of interaction forces and movements makes it possible to simulate the dynamic characteristics of the handling of a virtual object by fingers and palm in rehabilitation applications or some serious games. The combination of these above mentioned technologies and open and portable software are very useful in the design of applications for assistance and rehabilitation purposes that is the main objective of the device.

Keywords

• inertial sensors
• force sensors
• on-body measurements
• wireless
• virtual reality
• serious games