  As VR finds increasing application in scientific research domains like
nanotechnology and biochemistry, we are beginning to better understand the
domains in which it brings the most benefit, as well as the gestures and form
factors that are most useful for specific applications. Here we describe
Open-source Mudra Gloves for Virtual Reality (OMG-VR): etextile gloves designed
to facilitate research scientists and students carrying out detailed and
complex manipulation of simulated 3d molecular objects in VR. The OMG-VR is
designed to sense when a user pinches together their thumb and index finger, or
thumb and middle finger, forming a "mudra" position. Tests show that they
provide good positional tracking of the point at which a pinch takes place,
require no calibration, and are sufficiently accurate and robust to enable
scientists to accomplish a range of tasks that involve complex spatial
manipulation of molecules. The open source design offers a promising
alternative to existing controllers and more costly commercial VR data gloves.
