Virtual reality (VR) technology has made great strides in recent years, but the industry is still trying to figure out the best way to handle controls. Manufacturers could simply give users a standard gamepad, but that’s not particularly immersive or versatile. A currently popular solution is a pair of handheld controllers that can be tracked in real 3D space by a headset. But even those aren’t very immersive. Maybe gloves would be better? Rachel Freire decided to solve the problem by creating these “HYBRID VR data gloves” that work with both Meta Quest and Valve Index/HTC Vive VR headsets.
Freire is an artist and fashion designer who frequently uses technology to add unique features to the garments and accessories she creates. In fact, she’s even combined gloves with electronics in the past. Seven years ago, she created a simple electronic textile glove using conductive fabric. She then refined the design through several iterations, including a version called “Mudra” that works with the HTC Vive VR headset via the Viv Tracker module. Now, Freire has updated Mudra’s design to make it more modular and also work with the Meta Quest VR headset. This is the “hybrid” model, and what we’re talking about today.
Valve Index VR headsets are fully compatible with HTC Vive hardware, so Mudra and Hybrid gloves will work with both systems. However, the hybrid also works with the Meta Quest headset. Quest headsets are by no means open, but will work with third-party Bluetooth controllers. So Friele has created a hybrid glove that can fill those roles.
To enable Meta Quest connectivity, Friere used a TinyPico development board. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with Raspberry Pi Pico. This is actually an ESP32 based board and is very small, so it was perfect for this project. The ESP32’s built-in Bluetooth adapter lets you connect to Meta Quest headsets, and the Vive Tracker lets you connect to HTC Vive and Valve Index headsets.
The rest of the structure is similar to Freire’s previous projects, with conductive pads on the fingertips acting as buttons when the user performs a pinching motion (between the thumb and index finger, or between the thumb and middle finger). Freire provides a pattern and very detailed instructions for cutting the materials and sewing the gloves together.
If you want a VR controller that feels more natural than the one that comes with your headset, this is worth considering.
