Andrew Bosworth (Facebook’s Augmented and Virtual-Reality Vice President) announced last 23rd September though a message posted on his Facebook wall that Facebook has agreed to to acquire CTRL-Labs.
Co-founded by Thomas Reardon (CEO) and Patrick Kaifosh (CSO), this tech startup acquired by Facebook has developed a wristband that lets people controlling their devices as a natural extension of movement.
Launched in 2018, the CTRL-kit is still not available in the market, but currently in preview for select developers.
With CTRL-wristband, people can use their hands to pick up and finely control the speed of objects in 3D space. It allows the users to interact with virtual environments the way they naturally interact with the real world.
Controlling your devices with your spinal cord electric signals
“Here’s how it’ll work,” explains Bosworth on his post, ” You have neurons in your spinal cord that send electrical signals to your hand muscles telling them to move in specific ways such as to click a mouse or press a button. The wristband will decode those signals and translate them into a digital signal your device can understand, empowering you with control over your digital life. It captures your intention so you can share a photo with a friend using an imperceptible movement or just by, well, intending to.”
On the importance of the advance developed by CTRL-Labs the Facebook’s Augmented and Virtual-Reality Vice President underscores: “Technology like this has the potential to open up new creative possibilities and reimagine 19th century inventions in a 21st century world. This is how our interactions in VR and AR can one day look. It can change the way we connect.”
Looking for more natural, intuitive ways to interact with devices
On the reason why Facebook agreed to acquire CTRL-Labs Bosworth explaines: “We spend a lot of time trying to get our technology to do what we want rather than enjoying the people around us. We know there are more natural, intuitive ways to interact with devices and technology. And we want to build them. It’s why we’ve agreed to acquire CTRL-labs. ”
Reardon and Kaifosh, two PhD in Neuroscience from Columbia with a recognized scientific truck
Thomas Reardon (co founder and CEO CTRL-Labs) received his PhD in Neuroscience from Columbia University, was CEO and Co-Founder of Avogadro, Inc., acquired by Openwave where he served as CTO, and creator of the Internet Explorer project at Microsoft. He’s a founding Board Member of W3C, has 7 patents, and was an MIT “Top 35 Young Innovator” in 2004.
Patrick Kaifosh (co-founder and CSO CTRL-Labs) received his PhD in Neuroscience from Columbia University, was a Co-Founder & Board Member at Geomechanica, Inc., and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellow. He has 9 publications in scientific journals including Science, Nature Neuroscience (2012, 2013, 2014), Neuron, and the Journal of Neuroscience.
Talented and recognized scientists from Standford University, the Imperial College of London, Johns Hopkins Un iversity, MIT, Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute and Columbia University are members of the select CTR-Labs Scientific Advisors group.
Alexa fund, Fuel Capital, breyercapital and vulcan capital has been funding CTRL-Labs, who accounts with LUX, GV, matrixPartners and SPARK among their investors and Board members.
Image over the headline.- CTRL-Labs wristband kit.© CTRL Labs
Related external links:
Thomas Reardon Introduces CTRL-kit at Slush 2018 -video-
Ctrl wristband (how it works) -video-
Message on the purchase of CTRL labs posted by Bosworth on his Facebook wall
Tweet on the purchase of CTRL Labs published by Bosworth
Related Eastwind Marketing links:
Samsung puts hands and senses on VR
IBM Watson to bring natural interactive features to VR games
Facebook launches first AR platform and first ever social VR products
MWC 2016.- Zuckerberg announces social VR group and partnership with Samsung
Related Eastwind Marketing links (old platform):
Oculus acquires Nimble VR “letting hands on” virtual reality
