A grip sensor comprising: a substrate ; an electrically non-conductive layer disposed on the substrate ; a plurality of strands of electrically conductive material spaced circumferentially about the substrate , wherein the plurality of strands of electrically conductive material are generally parallel and are located between the electrically non-conductive layer and the substrate ; and, a processor coupled with the plurality of strands of electrically conductive material , the processor being configured to detect capacitance in each of the respective strands of electrically conductive material and compare the detected capacitance against a predetermined threshold to determine an above or below state of capacitance, representable in binary output, wherein, a first subset of the plurality of strands of electrically conductive material including a first strand (L1) and a second strand (L2) of the plurality of strands of electrically conductive material , the first and second strands (L1, L2) being in succession circumferentially about the substrate , wherein, a second subset of the plurality of strands of electrically conductive material including a third strand (L3), a fourth strand (L4), and a fifth strand (L5) of the plurality of strands of electrically conductive material , the third, fourth, and fifth strands (L3, L4, L5) being in succession circumferentially about the substrate , characterised in that contact by a user's hand simultaneously across the strands of the first subset (L1, L2) collectively generates an output representative of a palm of the user being in contact with the electrically non-conductive layer , and in that , contact by the user's hand simultaneously across the strands of the second subset (L3, L4, L5) collectively generates an output representative of fingers of the user being in contact with the electrically non-conductive layer . a substrate ; an electrically non-conductive layer disposed on the substrate ; a plurality of strands of electrically conductive material spaced circumferentially about the substrate , wherein the plurality of strands of electrically conductive material are generally parallel and are located between the electrically non-conductive layer and the substrate ; and, a processor coupled with the plurality of strands of electrically conductive material , the processor being configured to detect capacitance in each of the respective strands of electrically conductive material and compare the detected capacitance against a predetermined threshold to determine an above or below state of capacitance, representable in binary output, wherein, a first subset of the plurality of strands of electrically conductive material including a first strand (L1) and a second strand (L2) of the plurality of strands of electrically conductive material , the first and second strands (L1, L2) being in succession circumferentially about the substrate , wherein, a second subset of the plurality of strands of electrically conductive material including a third strand (L3), a fourth strand (L4), and a fifth strand (L5) of the plurality of strands of electrically conductive material , the third, fourth, and fifth strands (L3, L4, L5) being in succession circumferentially about the substrate , characterised in that contact by a user's hand simultaneously across the strands of the first subset (L1, L2) collectively generates an output representative of a palm of the user being in contact with the electrically non-conductive layer , and in that , contact by the user's hand simultaneously across the strands of the second subset (L3, L4, L5) collectively generates an output representative of fingers of the user being in contact with the electrically non-conductive layer . <EOS>