HaptX is now taking pre-orders for its next-generation haptic gloves which the company is set to release in Q3 2023.
Last month we covered the development of HaptX’s full-body haptic VR product which intended to simulate touch senses to create a deeper and more immersive experience. Now the company is set to release its first step, the Haptx Gloves to take the next big step in VR technology.
The gloves are connected to a lightweight air-compressing backpack that is used to push air into “microfluidic actuators that physically displace your skin”. According to company details, the backpack is intended to have a three-hour battery life to ensure enough playtime. The gloves themselves – which come in different sizes – consist of small actuators that utilise air pressure to restrict hand movements which in turn aims to simulate the sensation of touching an object.
Can you feel the future?
The gloves start at a price of $5,495 but a bundle which includes different glove sizes is priced at $18,000. There is also an additional subscription plan required that adds $500 per month for ongoing service and maintenance of the product. The company is also asking for a “small deposit” to establish shipping priority and lock in a discounted pre-order price.
The product boasts that it can create the feeling of realistic contact and uses powerful force feedback to convey the shape and size of the object you are touching or holding. The product even states that advanced vibrotactile feedback is used, so not only can users tell they are touching something, but can also determine the texture of the object. While the product could find a place in the world of VR gaming and metaverse titles the company is also looking beyond games into the medical sector, robotics, and other industries.
Paige Cook is a writer with a multi-media background. She has experience covering video games and technology and also has freelance experience in video editing, graphic design, and photography. Paige is a massive fan of the movie industry and loves a good TV show, if she is not watching something interesting then she's probably playing video games or buried in a good book. Her latest addiction is virtual photography and currently spends far too much time taking pretty pictures in games rather than actually finishing them.
