Valve: VR Knuckles Controllers unveiled, allows ten finger control

Valve unveils a new controller concept: The Virtual Reality Knuckles Controllers are designed to capture the movements of all ten fingers.

There are already some impressive VR input devices on the market for applications or games, such as the Oculus Rift touch controllers, which registers the position of the thumb and two fingers. However in the case of Valve's VR HTC Vive Controller, things are not quite as simple and a little bit messy to operate with. So Valve is coming up with a new concept of the Knuckles Controllers that will offer gamers a more comfortable way to play their favourite VR titles, as well as offering more possibilities for experiences in VR.

The Knuckles Controller is not just an update of the previous Vive Controller, but a completely new concept.
The idea behind the new concept is to capture the movement of all ten fingers, which will greatly expand the feeling and possibilities that VR can offer in the environments. Borrowing elements from earlier designs, the familiar looking design takes the trigger finger, trackpad and face buttons to intergrate them into a new design that offers much more freedom. Plus the Knuckles Controllers also offer Touch Sensistive sensors on the handles of the controllers to determine where the ring, middle and small fingers are.

This should result in a significantly improved "gripping sensation". Objects in VR environments can also be used with the touch controls for Oculus Rift - but with the added support for ten fingers from the Knuckles Controller, the feeling is much more realistic and natural. You can read more about the Knuckles Controller over at the guide in the Steam Community.