Haptic Suit

Lore & Background

In 1994, Aura Systems launched the Interactor Vest, conceived by Larry Shultz, to feel sound from video games and TV shows. It used Aura's patented electromagnetic actuator technology to convert bass sound waves into vibrations representing actions like a punch or kick. The Interactor Vest plugged into the audio output of a stereo, TV, or VCR and was worn over the upper torso. Aura later shipped the Interactor Cushion, placed against a seat back. Both launched at $99. In 2002, Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz designed the HugShirt, a wearable haptic telecommunication device allowing a wearer to send the feeling of a hug. It featured touch sensors and haptic actuators, and was awarded first prize at the Cyberat Bilbao Festival and by Time magazine as one of the best inventions of 2002. In 2010, Saurabh Palan and a team at the University of Pennsylvania developed the Tactile Gaming Vest (TGV), presented at the 2010 IEEE Haptics Symposium, using solenoids for gunshots, eccentric-mass motors for knife slashes, and Thermoelectric heat pumps for heat. The SoundShirt, designed by CuteCircuit, allows deaf and hearing audience members to experience music via haptic sensations, featuring 30 haptic multi-force actuators. It won the 2019 UNESCO NETEXPLO Innovation award. bHaptics released a vest with 40 haptic points, a haptic mask, and haptic arm bands (TactSleeves) with 3 haptic points each. The Teslasuit, made in 2016, is a full body haptic suit with motion capture and biometric sensors, using EMS and TENS for feedback. According to ABC News, it is too expensive to go mainstream. The OW-O is a rechargeable wireless shirt with a mobile app for use in video games.

Reader's Guide

The Haptic Suit functions as a full-body interface that wraps around the user's skin, containing thousands of micro-actuators and thermal sensors. When connected to an OASIS rig, it receives data streams from the game engine regarding physical interactions.

It works by translating digital code into physical stimuli. If an avatar is hit by fire, the suit heats up; if they walk on ice, it chills the skin. It can also simulate impact forces, allowing players to feel punches or collisions without causing actual injury, though high-intensity settings can be overwhelming.

These suits are wielded primarily by wealthy gamers, professional guilds, and serious contenders in major competitions like the Easter Egg hunt. While basic versions exist for casual users, the most advanced models offer near-perfect sensory replication, making them essential tools for anyone aiming to master the OASIS.

Did You Know?

• The Aura Interactor Vest, launched in 1994, was conceived by Aura's VP of Audio and Video Technologies, Larry Shultz.
• The Teslasuit uses electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to simulate feelings and sensations.