Robotic Glove Helps Regain Strength, Usage of Hands
From: Wireless Design Magazine - 03/23/2017
By: Michael Luciano

In an effort to help the disabled and elderly regain strength and ability to
use their hands, researchers at Seoul National University in South Korea have
designed a robotic glove made from a flexible polymer material called the
Exo-Glove Poly. The primary functions of the glove are defined by breaking
down the device’s name. The term "Exo" is derived from the Greek word for
“outside,” while "Poly" originates from the Greek term for “many” (along with
alluding to the glove's polymer-based composition).

The exo-glove poly has three slots for the thumb, index, and middle fingers
with wires attached to them that are embedded in a tendon-like strip of
polymer material. The wires are moved by a small motor, controlled by a
switch that prompts the wires to open and close the user’s hand.

As a result, the glove’s wearer is able to grip and lift objects weighing up
to one pound and can perform basic tasks like pouring beverages. Aside from
giving the disabled a stronger sense of control over their limbs, the
exo-glove polymer can serve as a catalyst to help people like the elderly
grip objects more firmly.

The exo-glove polymer’s design is adjustable to various hand sizes,
lightweight, compact, and has been praised for its simplicity by people that
were used in the device’s trial testing. Not only can the glove be worn every
day, but the device is also waterproof, protects its wearers from injury, and
can be removed and washed if it ever gets dirty. 

Read the entire article and view a video (5:06) at:
https://www.wirelessdesignmag.com/blog/2017/03/watch-robotic-glove-helps-regain-strength-usage-hands

Link:
Exo-Glove Poly makes life easy for disabled people
http://www.brecorder.com/2017/03/22/339809/exo-glove-poly-makes-life-easy-for-disabled-people