RallyPoint Handwear Computer Input Device gives soldiers a hand

The last thing you want to do in a combat situation is bust out a keyboard and mouse and start clicking away just to send some simple commands via your embedded computer. Now RallyPoint, a Cambridge, MA-based startup, is building a new computer interface glove so that soldiers can operate their computers in the field without taking their hands off their gun. The Handwear Computer Input Device (HCID) has a whole mess of sensors built-in, including push-button sensors in the pinky, fourth finger and index, finger, a mouse-like sensor in the index finger and a trio of accelerometers on the back of the hand. HCID plugs in via USB, and can be used to activate radio, navigate electronic maps and send commands. No word on when HCID is going to be deployed, but despite its bulky looks it seems to be pretty much field ready.

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 28th 2008 9:43AM]

Is this something civilians could use as well in the future? I could see it being useful*


*Useful as in typing or moving the mouse on any surface, not a gun's surface, seeing as I don't own a gun.

[OneLove @ Apr 28th 2008 11:57AM]

You give someone the finger and it sends a "Fuck You" message.

[NHAnimator @ Apr 28th 2008 9:44AM]

Buy now and we'll throw in the ability to communicate your feelings to troops on the opposing side using no computer and only one finger.

[Idlemind @ Apr 28th 2008 9:50AM]

More stuff to learn... Soldiers have way to much to pay attention to as it is...

I can see it now, recoil from the truck-mounted machine gun causing strange messages to be sent out...


G-G-G-G-G-E-E-E--T-T-T- - - - - -M-M-M-M-E-E-E-E- O-O-O-OU-U-U-T-T-T--AA-A-A H-H-H-E-E-E--R-R-R-E-E-E-E-

[Flashpoint @ Apr 28th 2008 10:06AM]

if I can shoot people with a guncon then I should be able to shoot insurgents with an M-4 styled light gun too.

When will we get a Call of Duty - marksmanship edition?

[darkstar @ Apr 28th 2008 10:15AM]

i dont see how we cant use this with Unreal Tournament
:-D

[Brendan G. Lim @ Apr 28th 2008 10:23AM]

Congrats David!

[Todd @ Apr 28th 2008 10:34AM]

Ability to IM your squadron with one hand: Check.

Ability to call air strike with middle finger: Check.

Ability to put your finger on the trigger while wearing massive computer gloves: Fail.

[Earl Jr. @ Apr 28th 2008 1:22PM]

"Ability to put your finger on the trigger while wearing massive computer gloves: Fail."
Enlarged trigger guard: Win.

[Relics @ Apr 28th 2008 4:05PM]

The American and Canadian forces have removable trigger guards to ensure proper usage with Arctic gloves.

[Rick @ Apr 28th 2008 10:41AM]

Great, what happens when you get a Blue Screen of Death on your computer while the gooks are using Spray and Pray technology with their highly reliable AK47's? Call Steve Ballmer? Call tech support in India?

[majortom @ Apr 28th 2008 1:24PM]

dude, how old are you? I was there in 70 through 71. If you remember we used spray and pray. The zippers used AK's, RPG's, coke cans, bamboo, and 40# satchel charges. Had to love the foo gas though...

[Dave @ Apr 28th 2008 10:49AM]

Great. More money for crap soldiers don't need and likely won't ever get. They're not getting body armor--but they're all going to get computer gloves? Yeah, right. Keep spending us into the ground, Uncle Sam.

[Sir Fatty @ Apr 28th 2008 11:00AM]

Kill people and rake leaves at the same time!

[chuz @ Apr 28th 2008 11:06AM]

"Sarge! SARGE! My PC just crashed! What the hell do I do!"

"Take it easy Private - just press the thumb down on the switch, press middle finger and then pull your index finger towards you to reboot. If you have trouble remembering it - fire select, safety, trigger. Just don't point the gun at me while you.." BLAM

"Sarge? Sarge? Damn...."

Welcome to the future folks, where CTRL+ALT+DEL gets replaced with INCOMPETENCE+FRAG+JAIL

[RoccoNut16v @ Apr 28th 2008 1:32PM]

Weapons/rifles are for business, "guns" are for pleasure. So this just sounds like a replacement for one-handed web surfing. And yeah, that thing you're thinking about is what I'm referring to.

[Master Yogurt @ Apr 28th 2008 11:35AM]

It's so bad.

[Idlemind @ Apr 28th 2008 11:48AM]

When did we start using smurf guns?




j/k

[For2itous @ Apr 28th 2008 11:55AM]

Finally, a device tailored to the needs of one-armed porn-surf-sturbators!

[Zeek @ Apr 28th 2008 11:55AM]

Hang on a sec Jim, let me check my email...
*pop*
Crud. MEDIC!

[robwariii @ Apr 28th 2008 12:02PM]

this is a dumb idea. im in the military and i know that thick gloves like these take the accuracy away when you need it. plus what happen when you are moving your fingers around to "type" and it accidentally goes of

[Tim @ Apr 28th 2008 12:12PM]

what is the fourth finger? I only know them as index, middle, ring and pinky fingers; the index and pinky fingers were already mentioned, so if you count from either direction you can only get the second or third finger, unless you count the thumb, but thats not a finger . . . so what is the fourth finger?

[Phoenix @ Apr 28th 2008 12:33PM]

Why not use this on the hand that DOESN'T pull the trigger? So no bulk on your trigger finger, no accidental shots fired...

[john @ Apr 28th 2008 1:19PM]

Hm. Looking at the picture, I see the buttons on the backs of the fingertips for the middle, ring, and pinky fingers. When you've got your fingers around the grip, I can easily see how your thumb could press them (though, I have to wonder how you make sure your thumb doesn't press them accidentally).

But that button on the back of the base digit of the index finger... how do you use that while your hand is on the grip and trigger?

[BigD145 @ Apr 28th 2008 4:03PM]

Why not just integrate the buttons into the gun grip?

[Armoured @ Apr 29th 2008 8:18AM]

Mind control built into the soldier's helmets is a much better option, and is already achievable to some extent...you can move the on screen cursor and click using your mind. Much easier that way too, cause those gloves look like they'll need alot of practice.
Or maybe a combination of both.

[Zeke @ Jun 27th 2008 8:24AM]

"A trio of accelerometers on the back of the hand", hmmmm? Is this where the unidentifiable fourth finger comes in? If not, I assume this would mean they have to put down their weapon in order to press the accelerometers on the back of the hand. Wouldn't that defeat the purpose? HCID plugs in via USB? Really? Plugs in where exactly? I don't even want to know where that goes!!