Disney's research arm is aiming to take virtual reality to the next level, developing a new haptic technology to simulate impact on the human body.
Dubbed the "Force Jacket", 26 inflatable compartments are used to simulate pressure and force, adding a physical response to the VR realm.
Disney Research led the project, working alongside MIT and Carnegie Mellon University to develop the wearable tech, which can stimulate a wide range of sensations. In a video showcasing the jacket, Disney shows users experiencing sudden muscle growth, a force strike from a snowball and a snake wrapping itself around their body.
"Immersive experiences seek to engage the full sensory system in ways that words, pictures, or touch alone cannot," said a research paper headed by research associate Alexandra Delazio.
"The primary motivation of this research was to enhance the entertainment value of HMD-based visual VR experiences in games and movies, by providing on-body force feedback.
"This system offers the unique capability of delivering haptic actuation over large areas with a relatively low number of actuators, as compared to conventional techniques."
Combined with the jacket, a haptic effects editor allows designers to create specific haptic effects, building a library of haptic sensations for use in VR.
"Ultimately the Force Jacket provides a new haptic actuation method that can deliver far more immersive experiences by engaging the whole body," the paper concluded.
A taste of Asia and Australia will be brought to North Carolina, US, over the next five
years, through a multi-million dollar project to build new areas inspired by these regions
at North Carolina Zoo.
The joint ￥60bn (US$540m, €480m, £420m) Nintendo and Universal Super Nintendo World project
remains on track for a 2020 launch, according to Nintendo representative director Shigeru
Miyamoto,
who has released some comments on the proposed Japanese and US theme parks.
Disney's research arm is aiming to take virtual reality to the next level, developing a new haptic technology to simulate impact on the human body.
Dubbed the "Force Jacket", 26 inflatable compartments are used to simulate pressure and force, adding a physical response to the VR realm.
Disney Research led the project, working alongside MIT and Carnegie Mellon University to develop the wearable tech, which can stimulate a wide range of sensations. In a video showcasing the jacket, Disney shows users experiencing sudden muscle growth, a force strike from a snowball and a snake wrapping itself around their body.
"Immersive experiences seek to engage the full sensory system in ways that words, pictures, or touch alone cannot," said a research paper headed by research associate Alexandra Delazio.
"The primary motivation of this research was to enhance the entertainment value of HMD-based visual VR experiences in games and movies, by providing on-body force feedback.
"This system offers the unique capability of delivering haptic actuation over large areas with a relatively low number of actuators, as compared to conventional techniques."
Combined with the jacket, a haptic effects editor allows designers to create specific haptic effects, building a library of haptic sensations for use in VR.
"Ultimately the Force Jacket provides a new haptic actuation method that can deliver far more immersive experiences by engaging the whole body," the paper concluded.
A taste of Asia and Australia will be brought to North Carolina, US, over the next five
years, through a multi-million dollar project to build new areas inspired by these regions
at North Carolina Zoo.
The joint ￥60bn (US$540m, €480m, £420m) Nintendo and Universal Super Nintendo World project
remains on track for a 2020 launch, according to Nintendo representative director Shigeru
Miyamoto,
who has released some comments on the proposed Japanese and US theme parks.
