Doublepoint’s WowMouse: Transforming Hand Gestures into Seamless Device Control
At CES 2025, Finnish startup Doublepoint unveiled an innovative free app for the Apple Watch, called WowMouse, that promises to redefine how we interact with our devices. Harnessing the power of the wearable’s sensors, compass, and accelerometer, WowMouse turns your hand into a mouse, allowing you to control devices through intuitive hand gestures.
The Apple Watch introduced a similar technology with its double-tap feature in 2023. It detects micro-movements when you tap your thumb and index finger together, registering it as a click. Doublepoint takes this concept further by offering more precise control and expanding functionalities.
- WowMouse allows users to point their hand at a Mac and control the cursor on the screen via a companion app.
- Plans are underway to extend control to Bluetooth-enabled devices, like smart lights.
“The app requires an initial setup phase to map out where your devices are located. Once configured, you can easily point and control,” explains Jamin Hu, CTO of Doublepoint.
{Jamin Hu, CTO of Doublepoint}
During a demonstration, I wore an Apple Watch on my right wrist and pointed at a lamp across the room. With a simple gesture, I could turn the lamp on and off or adjust its brightness effortlessly.
The magic behind WowMouse lies in its deep neural network trained on an extensive custom dataset of hand gestures. This allows the app to interpret varied gestures uniquely made by individuals.
- 100,000 Android users have already downloaded the app since its launch at last year’s CES.
- The recent expansion onto Apple’s App Store has garnered thousands more users.
While big tech companies are exploring voice interfaces for smart glasses, Doublepoint’s vision leverages existing smartwatch sensors for a more integrated approach. CEO Ohto Pentikäinen envisions compatibility with smart glasses without needing additional components.
Founded in 2019, Doublepoint initially focused on hardware but pivoted to software solutions compatible with major smartwatch brands like Apple, Google, Fitbit, and Whoop. With $6.5 million raised so far and plans for further funding in 2025, their goal is to license their technology to smartwatch makers.
Although WowMouse has a growing fan base, operating within another company’s ecosystem can present challenges. Imagine how seamless it could be if integrated directly into these ecosystems without restrictions.
Ultimately, Doublepoint’s WowMouse opens up exciting possibilities for controlling smart devices with just a flick of your wrist—ushering in a future where technology feels truly magical.
