If one were to describe VR as an internet meme, it probably has the biggest gulf between expectation and reality. A new prototype controller has appeared to help bridge the gap somewhat. But this comes from a brand that most would probably not expect – Japanese electronics brand and Foxconn subsidiary Sharp. And it’s called the VR Haptic Controller.
These looks like the inside half of a pair of gloves attached to conventional VR controllers. Said conventional part allows for the classic VR controls using buttons and analogue sticks. But the glove component’s fingertips are where the magic is at, as they house what Sharp calls “multi-segmented tactile elements”.
That being said, Sharp has a long list of disclaimers for the prototype VR Haptic Controllers. To start, while the company says that while it is able to reproduce a variety of tactile sensations, they’re not as good as the real thing”, per machine translation. These also don’t allow for delicate finger tracking, as well as things like force or temperature feedback.
Despite being a prototype, Sharp appears to have attached a tentative price tag to the VR Haptic Controllers, which is JPY100,000 (~RM2,882). This comes complete with the contradictory disclaimer of the product being “in the early stages”, and that “development may be discontinued” despite people having paid.
Though this could also be the company crowdfunding its R&D. Below the pre-register button, the site says that “your pre-registration will be essential to the project moving forward”. Since this is also specifically a Japan-facing website, it’s unlikely that anyone outside of the country can actually do so.
(Source: Sharp)
