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Vancouver-based startup BioInteractive Technologies plans to unveil a gesture wristband for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications at CES 2018, which kicks off in Las Vegas on January 9.

With a form factor that’s similar to a fitness wristband, the Tenzr is described as comfortable, easy to use, and functions as an “accurate, hands-free, camera-free, wrist-worn gesture recognition controller for VR AR.”

Out of the box, the gesture band will have the capability to detect six hand gestures (left, right, up, down, hand open, hand close) without the need for calibration or user training, making it a plug-and-play device that can be used with any VR or AR system, according to BioInteractive Technologies, which says it will demonstrate Tenzr as a hardware agnostic VR AR controller at CES.

“For the last three years the company has focused on developing an easy to use, comfortable, accurate, and reliable gesture recognition wearable that will help replace current mobile VR AR controllers,” according to the press release. “This innovative product will provide a more immersive experience to users by freeing the hand from holding bulky button-based controllers.”

Tenzr is aimed at developers and early adopters interested in building and interfacing with systems that have Bluetooth connectivity.

The band can be used as a replacement for handheld VR controllers, to complement voice-enabled smart glasses, or with mixed reality devices such as Microsoft’s HoloLens, where it can free the user from having to lift his hand up to the field of view of the camera in the headset.

BioInteractive shows how the Tenzr wristlet works as a smart-home light controller in the video below.