While the race to create augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) headsets is much publicised, as Meta, Microsoft, Snap and even Apple are rumoured to be about to launch their own product soon. Some of the most interesting innovations coming from this space, however, are not as publicised, but could begin to take AR/VR into a much more immersive direction. These innovations are coming in the form of immersion through wearable technology that seeks to create physical sensations, as if the experiences were happening in the real world, rather than virtual.
Some well-known companies have begun exploring this, including Disney, who began testing their ‘Force Jacket’ in 2018. Disney looked to develop a solution that moved beyond simple haptic feedback akin to the vibrations on a cellphone. The Force Jacket contains 26 pneumatically-actuated airbags and sensors designed to replicate the feeling of force and high-frequency vibrations.
The software connected to this jacket controls the speed the airbags inflate, the force behind the inflation, and the duration. Movement can also be mapped together to track sensations across the jacket. The result is that the wearer can feel realistic simulations of touch and movement. Disney’s exploration of this tech could be something used as much for their rides at their theme parks, as it could be in connecting the virtual world with real sensations.
Some of the most interesting companies, however, are exploring these immersion technologies for medical purposes. Some companies are seeking to use neuroscience to help shape a platform for medical and healthcare professionals to use to connect with users, irrespective of location. Metaphysiks, for example, is building a system which takes neuroscience insights to inform a solution to create a true sense of self in a virtual world. Claiming that neuroscience has shown that “our brain integrates touch with our other senses to create a sense of self by owning our body”, Metaphysiks recently announced MetaTouch.
With MetaTouch, Metaphysiks is looking to build a full body suit that connects virtual experiences to a user’s nervous system through the surface of the skin. Similar to the Disney example, the suit uses tactical haptic movements, but they are also looking to use thermo-variations around the suit. The collaboration between the two types of signals are designed to convince the brain that the sensations are real.
Metaphysiks have launched their first product using this technology. Called STill, the offering is essentially a footrest that uses the aforementioned thermo-variants and hyptics in combination with audio cues. The result is an immersive experience designed to help people relax, meditate, and even improve sleep.
Teslasuit (no connection to electric car company Tesla) are experimenting with a full body suit, similar to that of Metaphysiks. However, unlike Metaphysiks, Teslasuit does not seek to use neuroscience, rather focusing on movement capture and biometrics for a number of potentially beneficial opportunities. The movement capture element can be used to bring real actions into the virtual world. But Teslasuit has far more ambitious goals for what their technology can do to help people around the world.
By connecting virtual reality with a fully immersive suit which can pass back sensations to make virtual experiences feel real, all while being able to measure biometric responses, Teslasuit can provide safe immersion. As such, one of the main objectives for Teslasuit is to help in training people to be able to understand and survive highly dangerous situations which would not normally be possible to replicate.
Finally, Teslasuit is looking to use their emerging technology to help researchers and the medical industry to better understand behavioural and rehabilitation analysis. Projects are currently underway that are using the Teslasuit to help shape understanding around post-surgery, spinal cord, and sports injury recovery. This is the prime example of new technology being used to evolve the virtual world to feel more real, while at the same time looking to help improve the real world.