Haptic Gaming Vest
Continuing the virtual reality theme is glorious the Haptic Gaming Vest. Developed by KOR-FX, with others being available, the vest allows players to get a true feeling for what’s going on around them without the need for on-screen prompts. As peripherals go, this is more of an output system than another way to input your movements into the game. They sure do allow you get a real feeling for the game, though. By using a series of acousto-haptic signals from the game you’re playing, the vest gives explosions an actual shockwave that rolls over your body.
Specialized haptic transducers convert audio information from the game into movements across the vest to bring your experience closer to that of your characters. The whirling blades of a helicopter are much more threatening when you can feel them rather than just see or hear them coming. Technology of this type is still in the early stages of development, but the Haptic Gaming Vest really does give you a feeling that peripherals like this could be the future.
If you’re too impatient to dream of a day where peripherals of this type are readily available on the market, you can slap down $150 to wear one right now. They’re fully adjustable to suit your body shape, customizable in order to enhance the experience you want, and even applicable to music or movies. You’ll never have to dream of a T-Rex’s roar that washes over your chest any more with this; instead, you can experience those thrills in the comfort of your own chair.
