My DataGlove project is a series of short winded bursts of motivation that has led to a very primitive glove that works better then I had hoped. Now take into mind this is a garage dataglove and is in no way comparable to a real "Data Glove" or a type of pinchglove, but with more software work could serve its purpose.
Part of my reason for posting this project is that I searched and searched for a "how-to" on this subject when I first started getting interested into VR. With that in mind, I want to make it available to those who can find my site.
Materials needed for Glove Construction:
1. A glove. Latex is the best, fabric is easier to work with.
2. 5- Infared L.E.D. 's (Available at Radio Shack)
3. 5- Infared reciever's (Available at Radio Shack)
4. 3 ft of tube. (Black works the best)
5. 5- 1M ohm resistors
6. 5 - 150 ohm resistors
7. Ribbon Cable
8. A electronic kit box
9. Connectors for your A/D converter and glove circuit
10. An A/D converter(Available online cheap at RadioShack.com)
11. A keyboard extension cable
12. And please some common sense
The first step is cutting the tubes the length of your fingers and placing the L.E.D.'s in the end of the tubes. I placed the transmitters at my fingertips and the recievers at my knuckles. Why this way, I dont know thats just the way I did it.
Next is to attach the tubes with the sensors to the glove. I did this by sewing rings of thread at each knuckle joint on the glove. Just work with it alittle and you will find the right locations.
Now take the ribbon cable and seperate the individual strands about a foot, so you will have some room to work. Twenty wires will be needed. A power and a recieving line to go to the voltage divider. Be careful to connect the correct polarites to the L.E.D.'s. I wired the ribbon wires systematically to the L.E.D.'s so that when it comes time to connect to the circuit you know which wire goes to what.
Attach the ribbon cable to the sleeve of the glove where the individual wires come back together. Now is the time to test your glove to make sure that your L.E.D.'s are working before you go any farther. Test each finger one at a time with a volt-meter and a power supply with a test circuit in a breadboard. The schematic is shown below. This is also the circuit that will be built five times for each finger and placed inside the electronic kit box, with your connectors.
If your circuit works and you get voltages out varying with finger flex then your doing it right. Next is to build your box with your five voltage dividers. I placed a DB-25 male connector at the end of my ribbon cable coming from the glove and placed a DB-25 female receptcle at the box like in the picture below.
For my power supply to the glove circuit, I spliced power from the keyboard port. Take a keyboard extension and use it for your power cord to the box. Cut the cord, splice into pin 5 for +5 volts. Check your port with a voltmeter to make sure. Also remember you'll need a ground so just as well take it off the keyboard port too.
For your +V outs from your circuit use a connector that will fit your A/D Converter. I purchased a cheap A/D converter from RadioShack.com for 85 dollars. It is an 8 channel which will leave you with three that could eventually be used for x,y,and z cordinates for tracking. Connect your converter to the computer and run your software. Most Converters will come with a test program to read your inputs. Run the test program and make sure your getting readings. If you dont, check your circuit.
If you have a Radio Shack converter or your converter uses QBasic, here is a REALLY basic program.
It will draw a hand on the screen that will mimic your movements and also print which finger is bent at the time. I'm not a programmer so if you can do it better feel free. This is only the third basic program I have ever written. Glove Program .
Some books that really helped me and have most of the project in it are called, "Experiments in Virtual Reality" by David Harrison and Mark Jaques and "The Virtual Reality Homebrewer's Handbook" by Robin Hollands. They are available online at www.books.com. If this in any way violates any laws please let me know and I will correct it. Also I take no responsablity if anything happens to your computer or anything else you own by trying this or any of my projects.
