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Haptic Gaming Vest Simulates Punches, Shots, Stabbing

Posted by Soulskill on from the thumpity-thump-thump dept.

An anonymous reader writes "IEEE Spectrum reports that University of Pennsylvania researchers have developed a Tactile Gaming Vest that smacks and vibrates as players get shot in a game based on Half-Life 2. Four solenoid actuators in the chest and shoulders in front and two solenoids in the back give you the feeling of a simulated gunshot. In addition, vibrating eccentric-mass motors clustered against the shoulder blades make you feel a slashing effect as you get stabbed from behind. If this kind of vest could be linked to a movie while you watch it, the experience would be that much more exciting. Or as one of the creators put it, 'every time Bruce Willis gets shot, you feel it.'"

9 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. Negative feedback by TSchut · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would prefer positive feedback instead. Say, every time you kill a baddie, the suit gently rubs your back for a few seconds. That would be a lot more motivating. Now watch this thread deteriorate!

  2. Re:I doubt it by zlel · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I thought that's the whole point of games and movies, that you don't want to go through the real deal, but want to think that you did?

  3. haptic feedback by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That's not the kind of haptic feedback I'm primarily interested in...

  4. Re:I doubt it by Rakishi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So having a little number on the screen go from 100 to 85 DOESN'T trivialize gunshot wounds but adding some vibration does?

  5. Re:I doubt it by sonicmerlin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Having been in a one-on-one fight with an ancient Greek god, I can assure everyone that God of War utterly fails to deliver the kind of pain being slashed by a god's razor-sharp weapon feels like. This game is an insult to veteran god-fighters like myself for trivializing the suffering caused by ancient Greek gods' weapons.

  6. Re:I doubt it by nacturation · · Score: 5, Funny

    Having been shot several times, I can assure that solenoids aren't going to deliver anywhere near the amount of pain that a bullet would.

    Thank you for the review... I was hoping to purchase one in order to actually feel the realistic amount of pain that Bruce Willis' character went through. In particular, I was looking forward to a "walking with glass embedded in feet" pain accessory. However, now knowing that my purchase would not deliver excruciating pain, I will defer acquisition of this device until they perfect the technology.

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  7. Terrible for movies by Gadget_Guy · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wouldn't mind trying this for a game character that I control, but it will piss me off (even more than it does now) when a character in a film stupidly puts themselves in harms way.

    "No, don't go through that door! You're going to get us both shot!"

    And on second thoughts, even computer games might be annoying. I certainly wouldn't want to wear the hat accessory when playing Super Mario Brothers.

  8. huxley by MancunianMaskMan · · Score: 4, Insightful
    this is old hat... check out the feelies

    "Going to the Feelies this evening, Henry?" enquired the Assistant Predestinator. "I hear the new one at the Alhambra is first-rate. There's a love scene on a bearskin rug; they say it's marvellous. Every hair of the bear reproduced. The most amazing tactual effects."

  9. Re:I doubt it by selven · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Greek gods are overrated, apparently Zeus's main weapon only does at most 14 damage