Busy, exciting conferences like CES may worsen hand tremors in people with Parkinson’s disease. For Roberta Wilson-Garrett, however, a new wearable device has been helping control her tremors. Wilson-Garrett has been using the GyroGlove launched at CES 2024. It’s a hand-stabilizing glove designed to “leverage advanced gyroscopic technology to offset hand tremors” to give wearers greater control over their activities.
Wilson-Garrett said she was able to perform certain tasks more easily during the few days she wore the gyroscope gloves. Things like buttoning a shirt, moving a cup of coffee, or writing a note become easier with this device. One morning, she forgot she was wearing gloves and grabbed her coffee, but her hand shook and the drink spilled.
In small, everyday activities like these, assistive technology can help people with disabilities regain some sense of control and independence. The current version of the GyroGlove consists of three parts: a fabric glove, a gyroscope in the stabilization module, and a battery pack on the forearm. Even though company representatives said their gloves were designed to be worn by people with shaky hands, they still wanted to put the device on for me. I held out my palm and a deputy put on a gyroscope glove.
The equipment in the booth was too big for me, so my experience wasn’t that valid or accurate. Even though I tried moving my hand in a tremor-like manner, I didn’t feel any counterforce or stabilizing effect.
If anything, I just felt a rather heavy weight on the back of my palm and a constant low whirring sound from the gyroscope as it spun within the module. According to company founder Faii Ong, the gyroscope spins more than four times faster than a jet turbine. The device is powered by a rechargeable lithium polymer battery that lasts about four hours, which Wilson-Garrett said is consistent with her experience. She also said she’s heard of people who have been able to successfully go two days without charging if they use the device intermittently based on the frequency of their tremors.
These components are designed to be bulky and easy to grasp and operate for people with shaky hands. Large buttons on the battery pack provide power control and power unit screen navigation, and the power unit also displays battery status with large icons and fonts.
All of these components attach to a comfortable harness that feels stretchy, soft, and spongy. The company says the fabric is “benchmarked on top yoga and athleisure brands” and is “made by the same leading manufacturer”. All told, the GyroGlove weighs about 580 grams (about 1.27 pounds), with the stabilization module and power module weighing 200 grams each.
During most of my time with the device, I spent much of my time awkwardly holding my hands in the air while gesturing to our videographer, and this prolonged tension may explain why the Gyro Gloves felt more like a glove to me. Heavy. However, Wilson-Garrett said she found the gloves comfortable to wear all day long, and I noticed she used her hands more naturally than I did. It’s likely that she’s become more accustomed to the weight and presence of the Gyro Gloves and has adapted to it.
Ultimately, I’m not someone with severe hand tremors and haven’t tried the wrong size device, so I can’t really criticize its effectiveness. Wilson-Garrett, who has suffered from Parkinson’s disease for at least six years, said she is pleased with it and plans to buy one.
The GyroGlove is available worldwide for $5,899 (but is $1,000 off for a limited time). As with many assistive devices, the price is high and not everyone can afford it. Ong said the GyroGlove is registered as a medical device with the FDA and the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), and the company is in talks with insurance companies in the United States to consider making the gloves available to people in need. It’s important to note that GyroGlove is not meant to replace medications or other types of treatment.
Representatives from the company said they expect future iterations to be smaller and offer more sophisticated stability. The fact that the GyroGlove is currently an actual device you can buy (if you have the money) is a good sign that it has the potential to help many people with hand tremors.
We will provide live coverage of CES 2024, which will be held in Las Vegas from January 6th to 12th.Get all the latest news from the show here.
This article originally appeared on Engadget: https://www.engadget.com/gyroglove-is-a-hand-stabilizing-glove-for-people-with-tremors-223816688.html?src=rss
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