In the ever expanding world of virtual reality it seems there is a new tool or device to further enhance the experience coming out every day. There are headsets, treadmills, handheld devices, and now you can wear a jacket to simulate affects on your torso. Disney Research has teamed up with the MIT Media Lab and Carnegie Mellon University to develop what they are calling the conceptual haptic force jacket. Disney has stated that the most likely application of the conceptual haptic force jacket will be to use it in tandem with a virtual reality headset to further enhance the immersion. The jacket can simulate the feeling of being hugged, hit, punched, and even the sensation of a snake crawling on your body. See the jacket pictured below.
The conceptual haptic force jacket works by inflating and deflating a series of 26 air compartments similar to airbags to create sensations that can mimic real world actions. Speed, force, and duration of inflation and deflation can be controlled using a computer with haptic effects software. The current goals of the jacket are to create the core technology to begin a psychosocial assessment and start creating effects. Current effects created include a racing heartbeat, light and heavy rain, being hit by a snowball, a bug crawling up your arm, slime dripping down your back, and motorcycle vibrations. I for one am very interested to see just how immersive devices like this can make future VR experiences.
Sources: https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/26/17284058/disney-force-jacket-physical-experienes-vr-virtual-reality-haptic
Image: https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/26/disneys-pneumatic-force-jacket-could-be-the-key-to-awesome-vr-theme-parks/