In 1994 Aura Systems launched the Interactor Vest, conceived by Aura's VP of Audio and Video Technologies, Larry Shultz to feel sound from video games and TV shows. The Interactor was a wearable force-feedback device that monitors an audio signal and uses Aura's patented electromagnetic actuator technology to convert bass sound waves into vibrations that can represent such actions as a punch or kick. The Interactor vest plugs into the audio output of a stereo, TV, or VCR and the user is provided with controls that allow for adjusting of the intensity of vibration and filtering out of high frequency sounds. The Interactor Vest is worn over the upper torso and the audio signal is reproduced through a speaker embedded in the vest. Sales numbers are unclear, but have numbers as low as 5000 of its Interactor Vest sold in Toys R Us and other electronics stores. Aura later began shipping the Interactor Cushion, a device which operates like the Vest but instead of being worn, it's placed against a seat back and the user must lean against it. Both the Vest and the Cushion were launched with a price tag of $99.
HugShirt (2002)
In January 2002, Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, then researchers at the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea in Italy, designed the HugShirt. The Hugshirt is a wearable haptic telecommunication device that allows a wearer to send the feeling of a hug to a distant loved one. HugShirts feature touch sensors and haptic actuators that work together to capture and recreate touch over distance. Sensor areas placed on the garment capture the touch of the wearer, the data is transferred to their mobile device where the Hug App creates a Hug message that is delivered to the receiving wearer of a second HugShirt in another location across the world. Actuators in the receiving HugShirt recreate the touch that was created by the first wearer. The HugShirt was awarded first prize at the Cyberat Bilbao Festival, and subsequently awarded by Time Magazine as one of the Best Inventions of the Year 2006.
In November 2007, TNGames released the 3RD Space Vest. The vest uses eight trademarked "contact points" that simulate gunfire, body slams or G-forces associated with race car driving. It is unique because unlike traditional force feedback accessories, the vest is directional, so that action taking place outside the player's field of view can also be felt. A player hit by gunfire from behind will actually feel the shot in his back while he may not be otherwise aware of this using standard visual display cues. Currently, players have three ways to use the vest. Playing games with Direct Integration, such as TN Games' own 3rd Space Incursion, using the 3rd space game drivers whilst playing a game, or installing specially made mods for a game. As of current, the vest works with: Call of Duty 2: 3rd Space Edition, 3rd Space Incursion, Half-Life 2: Episodes 1 & 2, Crysis, ', Clive Barker's Jericho, Unreal Tournament 3, F.E.A.R., ', Quake 4 and Doom 3.
Tactile Gaming Vest (2010)
Demonstrated at Haptics Symposium 2010, the Tactile Gaming Vest is a haptic feedback device designed to increase the immersiveness of first- and third-person shooter games and was developed by Saurabh Palan and his team from the Haptics Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. The vest can simulate gunshots, slashing and blood flow sensations. Other sensations, such as punch/kick, body blows, and surrounding environment are also being developed.
ARAIG (2013)
On May 31, 2013, a Kickstarter campaign was launched to raise funds for the development of ARAIG, a force-feedback and electrical muscle stimulation wearable device for use in video games. It features 16 points of feedback on the front, 16 on the back and 8 on each side. The Kickstarter campaign failed, as it only raised $126,625 of its $900,000 goal.
KOR-FX (2014)
The KOR-FX Gaming Vest uses award-winning 4DFX technology that transforms the audio coming from your games or media into pinpointed high-definition haptic feedback. This project was funded on Kickstarter in 2014.
Teslasuit (2018)
Teslasuit is a full body haptic feedback platform for Virtual and Augmented Reality. It can transfer sensation from virtual reality to a human body through electric impulses controlled by a mini computer with an advanced motion capture system on board. Teslasuit gives the ability not only to observe and experience virtual reality, but to act on their own and feel sensations that are generated in the virtual world.The technology is based on neuro-muscular stimulation that is widely used in electro-therapy, medicine and professional sport. Teslasuit incorporates a mesh of sensors that could deliver wide range of sensations such as touch, wind, water, heat, cold as well as the force with mild electric pulses. It can also collect data from the body for real time motion tracking and various biometric parameters. Teslasuit was released for use in enterprise and government services XR training in Q1 2019. Teslasuit has won a number of prestigious international awards including best VR/AR product at CES 2019 and Red Dot Award for best of the best in industrial design.
HAPTIKA (2015)
HAPTIKA is developing full body wearable haptic feedback gadgets with motion capturing and temperature sensation features. HAPTIKA feedback vest has been commercialize in March 2016 and they are expecting to commercialize their full body haptic feedback system in July 2016.
SoundShirt (2016)
The SoundShirt is a shirt that allows deaf and hearing audience members to experience music and AR enhanced by touch sensations. The SoundShirt was used for its first performance by the Junge Symphoniker Orchestra in Hamburg, Germany. During a live or virtual performance the shirt maps different musical sounds to haptic sensations on different parts of the body, allowing media to be felt physically. The SoundShirt features 30 haptic multi-force actuators embedded into a garment. The SoundShirt is the winner of the 2019 UNESCO NETEXPLO Innovation award, and the Audience of the Future INNOVATE UK Innovation Grant.
Rapture (2016)
The Rapture haptic vest is under development for use in The VOID virtual reality entertainment centers. It is based on vibration motors and transducers.
NullSpace VR (Hardlight Suit) (2016)
NullSpace VR develops a full upper-body haptic feedback suit and gloves with stand-alone tracking for virtual reality. A total of 32 haptic feedback pads are placed around the body with 117 built-in haptic effects. The Developer SDK is currently available for developers to create their own "haptic animations". NullSpace VR ran a successful kickstarter in March 2017. This project went bankrupt in September 2018.
AxonVR (2016)
AxonVR, now HaptX, is developing a full body haptic feedback suit based on miniature hydraulic actuators
bHaptics TactSuit (2017)
bHaptics released three products which are a vest based on 40 haptic points, a haptic mask, and a haptic arm band with 20 haptic points.
Woojer (2017)
Woojer is developing a haptic vest with a three-fold patented transducer, the Osci. The technology is scalable, so it can be woven inside a smart fabric as well as feature in bigger components and for industrial usage. The vest is expected to commercialize in 2018.
NeoSensory exoskin (2018)
NeoSensory is developing a haptic jacket that allows users to experience real touch in virtual reality. It's available for delivery since July 2018. The NeoSensory exoskin allows the wearer to feel another avatar's touch, the wall they've grazed, raindrops, gunshots, a hug, an explosion, and everything else. A Developer SDK is currently available and allows developers to build otherworldly haptic applications that control the exoskin.
