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[In]expensive Immersion?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the well-kinda-anyway dept.

rentaghost sent us a sharky bit about a mouse feedback device that actually connects your audio output to the mouse to add vibrations. It's OS independent, too. If you're not interested in the cheaper stuff, check out Vision Station: a domend screen and 3d sound projection? Of course, the scariest version is a whole room. You thought quake gives you motion sickness now.

6 of 62 comments (clear)

  1. Haptics... by TheReverand · · Score: 3
    Haptic mice are sweet. They are talking about applying it to medical edumacation, training doctors how to palpate certain parts of the body, by allowing them to feel how it would resist.

    They even have an app to train people on finding land mines!

    FYI Haptics comes from the Greek Haptesthai. meaning to grasp or touch.

    cheers,

    rev

    1. Re:Haptics... by TheReverand · · Score: 3
      Bah, forgot my links.

      Electronic Journal of Haptic research.

      Haptics Community Web Page

  2. Hate to rain on parades, but... by Seumas · · Score: 4
    First, I have to disagree with Sharky's comment which eluded to optical mice being lame. I've really enjoyed my neutered mouse. It handles Quake and other games just fine and I haven't had to clean it or do.. well, much of anything to it since I purchased it.

    I hate to rain on people's parades -- especially when they've put so much hard work into their cool devices...

    ...But, why would anyone want this? It seems like just another 'rumble pack' like they had for the N64. Whoo. I fell, my mouse shook. Amazing.

    How realistic can it be if all the sensory input (to the body) goes through the mouse? Yay! My hand is shaking, but my ass isn't...

    Perhaps this 'tool' will find a use as some sort of feminine stimulation device -- like the ones you see sold on late night television or in the back of magazines desguised as 'personal massage' utilities...
    ---
    seumas.com

    1. Re:Hate to rain on parades, but... by slim · · Score: 3

      ..But, why would anyone want this? It seems like just another 'rumble pack' like they had for the N64. Whoo. I fell, my mouse shook. Amazing.

      Vibrating console controllers did indeed seem like a silly idea when they first came out - but when programmed well, they can be amazingly effective. Two examples come to mind. The bumps and crashes in Gran Turismo - the vibration really does add to the experience. Silent Hill - as your character becomes weak, his heart beats harder. The closer he is to death, the louder his heart beats, and the more the controller shakes, in time to the heartbeat.

      This device could be the PC equivalent, although merely linking vibration to the audio output is probably not all that effective.

      Hmmm... I used to live in a house with a very shaky floor. I wonder how effective it'd be to somehow link the vibration instructions from a Playstation to a subwoofer of some kind?


      --

  3. Hmm... by B00yah · · Score: 3

    My mouse has enough problems going across the screen, the last thing i need is it fighting back...

    --

    How Jaded Are You?
  4. Practical Joke by Craig+Maloney · · Score: 4

    Man, this would make one hell of a practical joke for some unsuspecting user. Just send some low noise, and have their mouse jump in their hands. Couple this with a message box like "Machine is not properly grounded, please shut down immediately to avoid electrocution", and you could really scare the crap out of someone.