Meta’s wild new wristband reads your mind to control computers

Meta just showed off a wild new wristband that lets you control your computer just by flicking your wrist or tapping your fingers together. It’s an experimental piece of tech that resembles a chunky smartwatch and is designed to let you interact with devices without ever touching them.

Smart electromyography with a dash of AI

You can push a cursor across your laptop with a gentle turn of your hand. A quick thumb-to-forefinger tap opens an application. You can even scrawl your name in the air as if holding a pencil and watch the letters materialise on your smartphone screen. The device works using a technique called electromyography, or EMG, to read the electrical signals your brain sends through your forearm muscles. These signals are produced by neurons connecting to individual muscle fibres, and are so strong that they can be read right through the skin.

But the real breakthrough here is Meta’s use of AI. Researchers at its Reality Labs division trained a machine learning model on EMG data from thousands of consenting participants. This allows the system to analyse and recognise common patterns, making it work for new users almost instantly. Performance is already impressive, with tests showing handwriting at nearly 21 words per minute.

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In fact, the tech is so fast that it can detect the command signal before your finger even moves. It takes a little practice, but once you get the hang of it, you can control a cursor simply by intending to move your hand. Thomas Reardon, the Meta VP leading the project, told the NYT that it is not actually reading your mind. Rather, the wristband is just translating your brain’s intention into a digital command.

The wristband also represents a major pivot for the company. A few years ago, Meta cancelled a more direct brain-computer interface project to focus on this wrist-based approach, believing it offered a nearer-term path to market. The company already sells VR/AR products like the Quest 3 and the Ray-Ban glasses. A wristband of this kind could pair with such products down the line. Meta does plan to fold the technology into its products over the next few years.

Beyond gaming and general use, the technology offers hope for people with disabilities. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon are already testing the wristband with individuals who have spinal cord injuries.