Japanese Firm Showcases "Touchable" 3-D Technology

skade88 notes an interesting new piece of tactile feedback technology unveiled in Japan. Officials of Miraisens, a high-tech firm based outside Tokyo, said the technology, which can be used to improve the gaming experience or allow someone to physically shape objects that exist only on a computer, will soon be available for purchase. "Touching is an important part of human communication, but until now virtual reality has lacked it," Chief Executive Natsuo Koda said. "This technology will give you a sense that you can touch objects in the 3-D world," said Koda, a former virtual reality researcher for Sony Corp. It works by fooling the brain, blending what the eye sees with different patterns of vibration created by a small fingertip device, said Norio Nakamura, the inventor of so-called 3D-Haptics Technology and chief technical officer at the firm. In one demonstration of a prototype head-mounted display, the company showed how the wearer can feel resistance by pushing virtual buttons.

What We're All Thinking...

[wolfborg]

Porn please.

Re:

[rmdingler]

Especially if the game can touch back.

Re:What We're All Thinking...

[ArcadeMan]

No, this is Japan. It's going to be hentai with schoolgirls and tentacles and stuff.

When can I buy one?

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[Jonifico]

A touchable tentacle still sounds like an interesting feeling. Not for self-pleasure purposes, but there you go. I'm in!

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[Cley Faye]

For once, no, I'm not thinking porn when discussing virtual reality. One thing I'd like to see is a fully virtual keyboard, that could pop out in front of you, and be actually usable. That would be more interesting than force-feedback porn, which can already be simulated by other means (including maybe actual sex).

Only a matter of time ...

[cascadingstylesheet]

... before no teenage boy leaves the house. Ever!

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[ArcadeMan]

I blame Steve Carell.

Re: Only a matter of time ...

[Anonymous Coward]

"Only if you define virgin as never having had sex with a human..."

Like every sane person does....

Re:

[StripedCow]

This is my favorite explanation for the Fermi paradox.

Re:

[ArcadeMan]

You're going to love this [blogspot.ca].

I guess I'm the only one ...

[machineghost]

Wow, I guess I'm the only person on Slashdot whose first thought was "virtual keyboards I can actually feel, how cool is that?" and not "tentacle porn!"

Re:

[ArcadeMan]

Lace: The Final Brassiere. ...

Oh hurry up, I'm a busy man. Ugh, this high-speed modem is intolerably slow.

Want some serious 3D?

[Mister Liberty]

Look around you. You'll soon understand some blessings of 2D, and the many of 1D.

This is much cooler

[fullback]

This company has a tactile feedback and is much more advanced and cooler VR technology.

https://www.kickstarter.com/pr... [kickstarter.com]

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[qpqp]

The link you provided only has an input device (motion capturing) vs. an output device (haptic feedback). An interesting product, but not directly related to the tech discussed here.
Their website also doesn't have any haptic feedback devices, so if you could please elaborate on your "this company has a tactile feedback" statement, and show the feedback part, I'd very much appreciate it.

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[Travis Mansbridge]

Looks like their first stretch goal, which they've met, was a "rumbler for tactile feedback," about 5% down the page.

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[qpqp]

Oh... In this case, I stand corrected. I wonder if that "rumbler" is worth it, though.

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[fullback]

You wonder if it's "worth it?" It's free to the kickstarter backers.

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[qpqp]

Yes, for me "worth it" means the functionality and abilities, not how much it costs. My time and nerves are worth much more than gold.

Useful for 3D modeling?

[Khyber]

I could imagine a sculpting program where you could push and pull and pinch and press things and feel it being created under your fingertips.

Neato

[cshark]

This is cool, but the Israelis are ten generations beyond this.

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[koan]

Link?

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[cshark]

Sure thing. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/3d... [cbsnews.com]

"Touchable"?

[Engeekneer]

Touchable? Really? At least it's in quotes, but, really? How about "tactile" which is a word?

What is this, technology for corrupt cops?

piffle

[koan]

This kind of crap is never synced up correctly, there's always a miniscule delay the brain feels making VR uncomfortable to use.

Re:

[qpqp]

I think this is a valid concern, however, if you think about it, when we're distracted and focus on something else (e.g. visual or auditory stimulation), it doesn't have to be as fast as your nervous system, just close enough to it.
That's the way pocket thieves work.