Kinect, when it actually works properly, allows you to manipulate virtual items in mid-air. Here’s some new tech that would allow you to feel them. Once it’s working properly.
Utilising a set of re-jiggered speakers that send out puffs of vibrating-at-low-frequency air instead of sound, the Aireal, made by Illinois PhD student Rajinder Sodhi and Disney Research’s Ivan Poupyrev will allow you to very nearly feel virtual objects and textures.
And while its output is unfortunately audible, that’s something that could be muffled in the future. It does, however, apparently feel quite nice.
"The sensation is quite pleasant," Poupyrev says. "It’s not like air blowing onto your body. The air ring is a traveling low-pressure bubble. When it collapses, the air from outside rushes in, and it creates force at this particular point. It’s [a] very localized, sharp puff of air."
(Unrelated: I tend to let out a very localised, rather sharp puff of air under the blankets every night before pulling the duvet over the wife’s head. I’m a classy fellow that way. )
The system, much like the current iteration of Kinect is also a little bit laggy – but that too, could go away in the future. Imagine this tech maturing, and using it in parallel with Kinect 2.0 and Oculus Rift; You’d be able to do and feel things in virtual reality. It’ll get so real, that you may as well just go outside and do things for real instead.
Last Updated: July 23, 2013
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 23, 2013 at 15:32
What? I DEMAND TO SMELL MY GAMES! QUICK SOMEONE DELIVER SMELLOVISION TO THE UNWASHED GAMING MASSES!
Because clearly gaming has to be saddled with all sorts of nonsensical and worthless crap, like Kinect and Aireal.
Unavengedavo
July 23, 2013 at 16:04
Wonder what the ultimate combo would be like with Smellovision :/
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 23, 2013 at 16:47
Feet and niknaks, with a hint of fart in the air.
Unavengedavo
July 23, 2013 at 17:14
I was thinking more the line of fish…
TiMsTeR1033
July 23, 2013 at 15:36
Your a good fellow Geoff! you were warming the mrs! methane gas keeps ya warm and toasty!
Unavengedavo
July 23, 2013 at 16:05
..
Troll Slayer
July 23, 2013 at 15:37
I can feel it coming in the air tonight….
Argentil
July 23, 2013 at 15:45
Oh Lord
TiMsTeR1033
July 23, 2013 at 15:44
LOOKS FREAKING KICKASS! and get cold air blow on you 🙂
Anon A Mouse
July 23, 2013 at 15:48
The troll level is strong in this header…
Brady miaau
July 23, 2013 at 15:49
Look, the dutch oven reference, Geoff, man, your poor wife
What is worse, that or the revenge?
Unavengedavo
July 23, 2013 at 16:01
The ultimate combo…
Biometric sensors + Rift + Wicked Paradise + Fundawear + Kinect depth perception + Aireal = Fun times
HvR
July 23, 2013 at 16:06
“3 aireal actuators simulating the moving air nearby flying seagulls”
Last time a bunch of seagulls flew past me it wasn’t air of the wings I was feeling on my head and neck.
RinceWind
July 23, 2013 at 16:08
WTF did I just see? SO, now when the NSA are watching you, and deem you to do something wrong, they can literally just fucking knock you out? WIN!
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 23, 2013 at 16:09
WAAAAHAAAHAHAHAHAHHA FAT DARRYN HEADER FTW
RinceWind
July 23, 2013 at 16:09
2:1 now I think?
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 23, 2013 at 16:10
3:1
RinceWind
July 23, 2013 at 16:12
What was Geoff’s first? Rewind DVD?
RinceWind
July 23, 2013 at 16:09
Mind you, we need this sort of crap to finally realise the vision of a fully working Holo deck. When that happens, and men no longer need women, our population can finally stabilize… trololo!
ElimiNathan
July 23, 2013 at 16:49
Haha dutch oven ftw
OminousRain
July 24, 2013 at 13:22
Just imagine how games will be when we are all retired. You’re 80, you have money (hopefully) and you have all time on your hands.