Quantcast

Don't have an account? Register Now! Forgot password?

Related Articles
Maximum IT
SEE MORE MAXIMUM IT
News

Philips Unveils Force Feedback Jacket at 2009 World Haptics Convention

Posted 03/26/09 at 05:55:59 PM  by Paul Lilly

comment Commentsprint Printemail EmailDeliciousDiggStumbleUponRedditFacebookSlashdot

Vibrating controllers may soon be considered old-school if Philips' new force feedback jacket catches on. The jacket, which was revealed by Philips at the IEEE-sponsored 2009 World Haptics Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, looks to bring a whole new level of immersion to multimedia content.

"We want people to feel Bruce Lee's anxiety about whether he will get out alive, causing a shiver to go up the viewer's spine and creating the feeling of tension in the limbs," said Paul Lemmens, Philips senior scientist.

To accomplish that goal, the jacket makes use of several physical actuators to affect the person wearing it, rather than relying on sound or motion-based vibration. There are sixty-four independently controlled actuators in all that extend from the torso on down to the arms, which are paired in arrays of four. Each array shares its own processor and is capable of being cycled on and off at a rapid rate of over 100 times per second, Philips says.

The concept may be more feasible than you think, at least from a power perspective. Philips claims the jacket can run on a pair of AA batteries for a full hour with twenty of the actuators being continuously triggered.


(Image Credit: Steve Brewster)

COMMENTS:8
TAGS: philips, consumer electronics, force feedback, haptics
COMMENTS
avatarIf only

Submitted by mesiah on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 10:05pm

This idea would probably be really cool if it was done right. With a perfectly fitting body suit and high end VR equipment it would probably be as close as well come any time soon to true full virtual immersion. But the truth is, noones going to spend $5k dollars on a suit and VR equipment. So if this makes it to market it will probably be a $200 wearable version of the old massage chair accessory that your mom bought you for christmas when she was at the dollar store.

Login or register to post comments
avatarDon't ask why but...

Submitted by codepath on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 5:14am

Does it come in a Speedo?

codepath

Login or register to post comments
avatarOH NOOOES

Submitted by mps725 on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 3:16am

Does it come in fat guy triple XL?  I sure hope so, and on that note, how many actuators will fat guy triple XL have?  Also, do we really have to look like tron when wearing our force feedback jackets.  Can't it just look like a regular jacket.

Also, I bet that guy smells AWFUL.  thanks for your time.

Login or register to post comments
avatarforce feedback jacket?

Submitted by bingojubes on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 4:28pm

now you can experience what it's like to get hit by Shin Akuma's 20-somthing hit killer combo...or a fireball, your choice.

i wonder how much something like that is going to cost. maybe they should have made it a vest, instead. not to mention the vibration of the feedback. ROFL at the thought of it needing a charge station, or attached USB cable for charging. might work better on the WII than anything else.

Login or register to post comments
avatarSo, how long before this is

Submitted by jcollins on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 3:57pm

So, how long before this is used in porn?

Login or register to post comments
avatari think that guy should

Submitted by hogkill on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 2:14pm

i think that guy should worry more about that mass of fungal hyphae coming out of his head instead of what jacket to wear

Login or register to post comments
avatardreadlocks are the official

Submitted by QuadCoreAbe on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 2:33pm

dreadlocks are the official hardcore programmer gear! The fungus is working just as much as the head below FYI...

 

 

Long Live Locks !!!!!

Login or register to post comments
avatarYay!

Submitted by Digital-Storm on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 2:20pm

Yay, now when you get beat up for wearing expensive products such as this, it can force feedback what it feels like to be kicked in the side when you are on the ground. Awesome!

Login or register to post comments

This Month's Issue
Maximum PC
SUBSCRIBE NOW
AND SAVE!
FEATURE How to Get FREE Programs, Services, Software & MoreFEATURE Digital Photo Printer RoundupHOW TOBuild a 3D CameraFEATUREDIY Arcade PCWHITE PAPERHow TRIM Works