Haptic Gaming Vest Simulates Punches, Shots, Stabbing

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.'"

Comments

Negative feedback

[TSchut]

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!

Re:I doubt it

[zlel]

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?

Re:I doubt it

[sonicmerlin]

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.

Re:I doubt it

[nacturation]

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.