Haptic suit

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NeoSensory exoskin haptic jacket. An ultrathin, breathable garment for immersive VR[1]

A haptic suit (also known as tactile suit, gaming suit or haptic vest) is a wearable device that provides haptic feedback to the body.

History[]

Aura Interactor (1994)[]

A photo of an Aura Interactor vest
Aura Interactor vest

In 1994 Aura Systems launched the Interactor Vest,[2] conceived by Aura's VP of Audio and Video Technologies, Larry Shultz[3] to feel sound from video games and TV shows. The Interactor was a wearable force-feedback device that monitors an audio signal and uses Aura's patented electromagnetic actuator technology to convert bass sound waves into vibrations that can represent such actions as a punch or kick. The Interactor vest plugs into the audio output of a stereo, TV, or VCR and the user is provided with controls that allow for adjusting of the intensity of vibration and filtering out of high frequency sounds. The Interactor Vest is worn over the upper torso and the audio signal is reproduced through a speaker embedded in the vest. Sales numbers are unclear, but have numbers as low as 5000[4] of its Interactor Vest sold in Toys R Us[5] and other electronics stores. Aura later began shipping the Interactor Cushion, a device which operates like the Vest but instead of being worn, it's placed against a seat back and the user must lean against it. Both the Vest and the Cushion were launched with a price tag of $99.[2][6]

HugShirt (2002)[]

In January 2002, Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, then researchers at the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea in Italy, designed the HugShirt.[7] The Hugshirt is a wearable haptic telecommunication device that allows a wearer to send the feeling of a hug to a distant loved one. HugShirts feature touch sensors and haptic actuators that work together to capture and recreate touch over distance. Sensor areas placed on the garment capture the touch of the wearer, the data is transferred to their mobile device where the Hug App creates a Hug message that is delivered to the receiving wearer of a second HugShirt in another location across the world. Actuators in the receiving HugShirt recreate the touch that was created by the first wearer. The HugShirt was awarded first prize at the Cyberat Bilbao Festival,[8] and subsequently awarded by Time Magazine as one of the Best Inventions of the Year 2006.[9]

HugShirt (2002) haptic garment for remote touch

SoundShirt (2016)[]

The SoundShirt is a shirt that allows deaf and hearing audience members to experience music and AR enhanced by touch (haptic) sensations. The SoundShirt was used for its first performance by the Junge Symphoniker Orchestra in Hamburg, Germany. During a live or virtual performance the shirt maps different musical sounds to haptic sensations on different parts of the body, allowing media to be felt physically. The SoundShirt features 30 haptic multi-force actuators embedded into a garment.[10] The SoundShirt is the winner of the 2019 UNESCO NETEXPLO Innovation award,[11] and the Audience of the Future INNOVATE UK Innovation Grant.[12]

bHaptics TactSuit (2017)[]

bHaptics released three products which are a vest based on 40 haptic points, a haptic mask, and a haptic arm band with 20 haptic points.[13][14]

Teslasuit[]

Teslasuit is a full body haptic feedback suit, so far too expensive to go mainstream.[15]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "NeoSensory | Expanding Perception". NeoSensory. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  2. ^ a b "Aura's Interactor - VR at its Vest". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis (63): 56–60. October 1994.
  3. ^ "Best Virtual Reality Video Game Wear Technology Invention by Larry Shultz". www.larryshultz.com. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  4. ^ "AVSIM Commercial Hardware". www.avsim.com. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  5. ^ "Interactor Videos". YouTube.
  6. ^ "Cushioning the Blows". GamePro. IDG (81): 138. June 1995.
  7. ^ "The HugShirt". CUTECIRCUIT. Archived from the original on 2020-05-12. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  8. ^ "What is Wearable Technology?". TechDirectory. Archived from the original on 2019-03-09. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  9. ^ "Best Inventions of 2006". Time. 13 November 2006. Archived from the original on 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  10. ^ "The SoundShirt". CUTECIRCUIT. Archived from the original on 2020-05-12. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  11. ^ "Learning in the digital age, smart cities, among the innovations taking centre stage at UNESCO Netexplo Forum". UNESCO. 15 April 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  12. ^ "CuteCircuit: clothing the wearer in immersive sound". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 2019-07-24. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  13. ^ "bHaptics TactSuit". bhaptics.
  14. ^ "bhaptics tactsuit vr haptic feedback htc-vive-x-demo-day". Engadget. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  15. ^ "The developers of this VR suit discovered an interesting fact". ABC News. 2021-03-31. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
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