EITWatch open-source ESP32-S3 smartwatch implements planar EIT hand gesture recognition

Researchers at Northwestern University introduced EITWatch, an open-source ESP32-S3-based smartwatch that uses planar Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) with eight electrodes on the back of the case to recognize hand gestures via impedance changes from muscle and tendon movement. The device, built around a Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3 board with a 31 mm electrode ring fitting a standard 40 mm watch case, is designed to bring gesture sensing to standard smartwatch form factors.

Researchers from Northwestern University have introduced EITWatch, an open-source ESP32-S3-based EIT Electrical Impedance Tomography gesture-sensing system that fits within a standard smartwatch footprint. It relies on a Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3 board and eight electrodes arranged on the back of the case to detect hand gestures via impedance changes caused by muscle and tendon movement beneath the skin. Unlike other wrist-EIT systems that use circumferential electrode bands, EITWatch places all eight electrodes on the back of the smartwatch case. The sensing area consists of a 31 mm electrode ring that fits within a standard 40 mm watch case, while a 20 mm PCB extension carries the discrete analog front end AFE . EITWatch hardware specifications: Wireless board – XIAO ESP32-S3 SoC – Espressif ESP32-S3R8 CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 microcontroller up to 240 MHz with vector instructions for AI acceleration Memory – 512KB SRAM, 8MB PSRAM Wireless – Wi-Fi 4 and ... The post EITWatch open-source ESP32-S3 smartwatch implements planar EIT hand gesture recognition https://www.cnx-software.com/2026/08/14/eitwatch-open-source-esp32-s3-smartwatch-implements-planar-eit-hand-gesture-recognition/ appeared first on CNX Software - Embedded Systems News https://www.cnx-software.com .