The “Fingertip Digitizer,” which users wear on the tip of the index finger, can transfer to the virtual world the meaning and intent of common hand gestures, such as pointing, wagging the finger, tapping in the air or other movements that can be used to direct the actions of an electronic device, much like a mouse directs the actions of a personal computer, but with greater precision.

What’s more, the Fingertip Digitizer can transfer to personal computers very precise information about the physical characteristics of an object — and even can sense the shape and size of a human gland or tumor — when a user taps, scratches, squeezes, strokes or glides a finger over the surface of the object. It eventually may be used as a high-end substitute for a mouse, a keyboard or a joystick.