Comments on: Ringbow: Bluetooth game controller you wear on your finger

By: NelC

NelC — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 05:10:00 +0000

The Doctor prefers the screwdriver design paradigm.

By: penguinchris

penguinchris — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:47:00 +0000

I’ve been mulling over designs for a similar device for years. I want to be able to scroll through e.g. BoingBoing comment threads while using my hands for something else (such as eating – get your mind out of the gutter), or just leaning back with my hands behind my head relaxing.

I thought of something like this but I don’t think it’s ideal for my needs because if I’m doing something with both hands it won’t work. My next idea was to have something controlled by the foot – at its simplest it could just be a single programmable bluetooth keyboard button; for scrolling you’d set it to the down arrow. The problem there is that my feet aren’t always on the ground. What I need is a mind-scrollbar interface.

Since the Ringbow is essentially one of my ideas come to life I’m rather tempted… I guess I’d need to know if it will actually work to scroll on computers.

By: Jorpho

Jorpho — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:37:00 +0000

That’s what I thought. I understood that ergonomic problems have presented a considerable barrier to their wider adoption.

By: Matt Fowler

Matt Fowler — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:52:00 +0000

They all seem to be either proprietary wireless (i.e. not bluetooth, hence no good for mobile devices), or are an optical mouse that requires a surface for its optical stuff to track. Also no good on a phone. Although, the generic-wireless-with-dongle Genius one actually fills a need for me – but it looks like it needs its own proprietary cable for charging though. (Ringbow feeds off microusb)

By: eljefe900

eljefe900 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:07:00 +0000

I don’t need this for my iPad! I need this for my Kinect! So I can control my movement through space as in most traditional games!

By: Kimmo

Kimmo — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:28:00 +0000

Nobody’s mentioned the coolest thing about this – one of the colours is called blouis c.k.

By: Kimmo

Kimmo — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:24:00 +0000

Damn, that link is nerdly cubed.

By: Kimmo

Kimmo — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:21:00 +0000

Holy crap, that Leap thing is sweet! It doesn't need accessories, but playing Angry Birds with chopsticks looks pretty rad.

By: pKp

pKp — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:57:00 +0000

“Ringbow multiplies the functionality of your finger together with allowing amazing simultaneous actions.”
snigger

By: Dan Hibiki

Dan Hibiki — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:39:00 +0000

there’s also about a million of these things out there already: https://www.google.ca/search?q=ring%20mouse&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=XV7sT5yrJqPQ2AXDt4isAQ&biw=1395&bih=612&sei=YV7sT4zqG-aJ6gHh9f2xBQ

By: Jim Baur

Jim Baur — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:36:00 +0000

What are you looking at?? The camera is over here! Hey! Over here!

By: groovyeyal

groovyeyal — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Take my money.

By: Vickie Kostecki

Vickie Kostecki — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 12:14:00 +0000

This might be an interesting alternative to a trackpad on a laptop. Trackpads are the main reason I rarely use laptops.

By: Joshua Botha

Joshua Botha — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 12:09:00 +0000

This is an amazing product !! i hope it becomes an international one too!! You guys should approach Wii for funding!!

By: liquidstar

liquidstar — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:42:00 +0000

It’s nice to see Dr. Who is still inspiring design strategies.

By: HahTse

HahTse — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:54:00 +0000

I call Bullshytt. (not bullshit, mind you.)

By: timquinn

timquinn — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:44:00 +0000

New ring allow quick cut and paste. bang bang. (oops)

By: John Thomas

John Thomas — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 08:59:00 +0000

it’s look pretty cool to use and feel some difference.

By: Tim in SF

Tim in SF — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Hey Cory, was that quote translated from Japanese?

By: francoisroux

francoisroux — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 07:54:00 +0000

After spiral cutting my wiener I find it a little difficult to wear… oh wait, finger worn…

By: glittalogik

glittalogik — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 06:37:00 +0000

This would make an amazingly easy-to-lose HTPC controller. I want it!

By: Ian Wood

Ian Wood — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 06:33:00 +0000

I am intrigued by its possible applications in the field of teledildonics.

Which is unfortunate, because there aren’t any. Not really.

By: DoctorMikeReddy

DoctorMikeReddy — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 04:51:00 +0000

Thank you SO much for posting this! Have applied for Developer SDK; fingers crossed.

It’s chalk and cheese really, but I can see applications for both.

By: Itsumishi

Itsumishi — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 04:16:00 +0000

Is it just me or is the ‘Ringbow” nothing more than a bluetooth d-pad wrapped in an ugly plastic enclosure?

By: Itsumishi

Itsumishi — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 04:15:00 +0000

That looks very promising. Kind of too promising. Although after a look at the Engadget article I'm much more convinced.

By: ifriit

ifriit — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 04:08:00 +0000

Actually, it’s $45 to get one. $35 was for the first 200.

By: theophrastvs

theophrastvs — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 04:00:00 +0000

(typing of big*old*nerd) wasn’t there a star-trek TNG where they were playing some game and had a bunch of *wires* (no wireless in the 24th century) on their fingers… ah yes, here: http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Strategema hm, probably no inspiration there ala communicators and cell-phones …nah.

By: Arduenn

Arduenn — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 03:42:00 +0000

Not sure if I want to wear a bulky plastic thing on my finger while gaming or manipulating stuff on a screen, especially after seeing this Minority Report-like thingie that doesn’t need any accessories whatsoever: http://youtu.be/_d6KuiuteIA .

By: Mike Meyer

Mike Meyer — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 03:31:00 +0000

ah, but is it embossed to say ‘BIG OL NERD’ when you take it off your finger?