Credit: Sharp
Japanese company Sharp has announced the release of a prototype VR controller with haptic feedback that aims to replicate the sensation of touch in VR while offering a familiar button layout.
The prototype controller presented by Sharp consists of a pair of devices — gloves for the left and right hands. The controller does not yet allow for precise tracking of finger movements. It also lacks force feedback or any temperature feedback. The prototype also functions as a standard controller, including sticks and buttons, according to the company. However, it is not yet clear how movements will be tracked while wearing gloves. Sharp intends to implement these capabilities in accordance with “high market share standards.”
“Although the haptics are not accurate enough to fully reproduce the real level, by changing the parameters we were able to achieve a variety of haptics,” Sharp said in a statement on the project’s Japanese website. “We plan to work with our users to improve the quality of the content.“
Despite the prototype status, Sharp intends to release an early version to the general public in Japan. The company has already closed pre-registrations on its Japanese website, where the price for a pair of gloves was listed at 100,000 yen. However, Sharp warns that development or release may be canceled.
