Scientists have created a wireless smart ring designed to control smart home devices.

As noted by the authors of the study, engineers from the University of Washington (USA), today's smart home systems encompass lighting, multimedia, security, heating, humidity control, and many other functions, all of which can be managed through voice commands or a mobile app. However, the interaction isn't always as convenient as promised: for instance, noise can hinder seamless control, as well as the need to specify which lamp to turn on or what volume level to choose. This leads to discomfort.

The university staff aimed to propose a simple and intuitive principle, akin to clicking an icon on a computer desktop. The development team opted for effective visualization in device interaction over lengthy verbal commands, following Confucius' words: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” The engineers introduced their innovative system.

The ring format was chosen deliberately — users can wear it throughout the day. However, due to its size, integrating a camera into the prototype was challenging; nonetheless, the engineers managed to incorporate it. The wireless smart system also includes a radio, built-in battery, and an inertial measurement unit, with machine vision support for interaction with the smart home.

To activate the system, the user points the ring's camera at the desired device and presses a button. The wireless system then sends the image of the selected device to the controlling phone. Additionally, volume can be adjusted on the same television simply by rotating the wrist. The interactive ring operates autonomously for 16-24 hours.

The majority of the 23 participants in the study who tested the smart ring preferred it over the voice command system (in this case, Siri from Apple). In the future, the ring could also be used to monitor a person's health, offering a broader range of functions than current devices allow.