Technabob » immersion http://technabob.com/blog Cool Gadgets, Gizmos, Games and Weird Science Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:15:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Like the NES Power Glove on Steroids http://technabob.com/blog/2007/03/02/like-the-nes-power-glove-on-steroids/ http://technabob.com/blog/2007/03/02/like-the-nes-power-glove-on-steroids/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2007 21:59:34 +0000 Technabob http://technabob.com/blog/2007/03/02/like-the-nes-power-glove-on-steroids/ Way back in 1989, long before today’s Wii-mote and the SIXAXIS motion sensing controllers, Mattel launched their rather silly looking, but ahead-of-its-time Power Glove controller for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Now, Immersion Corporation is offering a modern update to the concept with their CyberGlove II Wireless Data Glove.

immersion data glove

Immersion’s new controller is capable of precisely sensing palm, wrist, arm and individual finger movements and sending that data to a computer (via a 3D tracking device) to either record movements or to control software applications. The glove can interact with their optional software for 3D manipulation of objects in virtual space, or can be programmed to work with custom-developed software through Immersion’s VirtualHand SDK.

Unlike the old NES Power Glove, however, this glove isn’t designed for consumers or casual gamers, rather for use by 3D animators, product designers and for medical and military training applications.

[via OhGizmo!]

]]> http://technabob.com/blog/2007/03/02/like-the-nes-power-glove-on-steroids/feed/ 0 Sony and Immersion Settle, Sixaxis Rumble Now Possible http://technabob.com/blog/2007/03/01/sony-and-immersion-settle-sixaxis-rumble-now-possible/ http://technabob.com/blog/2007/03/01/sony-and-immersion-settle-sixaxis-rumble-now-possible/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2007 02:29:55 +0000 Technabob http://technabob.com/blog/2007/03/01/sony-and-immersion-settle-sixaxis-rumble-now-possible/ ps3sixaxisA couple of years back, Immersion sued Sony for $91 million for infringing on their patents when they made their Dual Shock controllers for the PlayStation 2. The company claimed that Sony was using patented force-feedback technologies without paying royalties. After a long, drawn out battle, the two companies have finally reached a settlement.

The companies today announced an agreement which will enable Sony to include vibration feedback (a.k.a. “haptic technology,”) in their products once more. Although Sony insisted that it was for technical reasons, this lawsuit is widely believed to be the reason that rumble was omitted from the PS3′s SIXAXIS controller. Now that it’s all water under the bridge, it’s definitely possible that Sony could release an upgraded controller capable of both motion-sensing AND rumble. The settlement is reported to have cost Sony at least $22.5 million in cash between now and the end of 2009.

[via Joystiq]

]]> http://technabob.com/blog/2007/03/01/sony-and-immersion-settle-sixaxis-rumble-now-possible/feed/ 0 Samsung Touchscreen Phones Get Tactile http://technabob.com/blog/2007/01/18/samsung-touchscreen-phones-get-tactile/ http://technabob.com/blog/2007/01/18/samsung-touchscreen-phones-get-tactile/#comments Thu, 18 Jan 2007 17:45:16 +0000 Technabob http://technabob.com/blog/2007/01/18/samsung-touchscreen-phones-get-tactile/ One of the biggest problems with touchscreen interfaces is the lack of any sort of tactile feedback. In response to this concern, Samsung has released a touchscreen phone with Immersion’s VibeTonz haptic feedback system.

samsung sch w559

The Samsung SCH-W559 phone provides users with a vibration that approximates the sensation of a key click when they interact with the phone’s touchscreen. The QVGA color touchscreen display also supports handwriting recognition. The quad-band phone also features typical media phone capabilities including a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth and audio/video playback. As the phone is currently not available outside of Asia, I’m hoping this feature will find its way into some products stateside.

[via NewLaunches]

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