A flexible smart glove detects fine hand and finger motions while permitting the wearer to make hand gestures with dexterity. The flexible smart glove has a thickness of less than about 100 μm and incorporates capacitive micro-sensors positioned at finger joint locations. The micro-sensors are thin film devices built on substrates made of a pliable material such as polyimide. Interdigitated serpentine capacitors monitor strain in the back of the hand, while parallel plate capacitors monitor contact pressure on the palm. Thus the smart glove responds electrically to various types of hand motions. Thin film resistors responsive to changes in body temperature are also formed on the flexible substrate. Motion and temperature data is transmitted from the glove to a microprocessor via a passive RFID tag or an active wireless transmitter. An ASIC is embedded in the smart glove to relay real time sensor data to a remote processor.