Flexpoint Sensor Systems Inc – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

June 12, 2018

CaptoGlove Attending E3 2018, Reveals Business Achievements

CaptoGlove, a wearable pair of gloves designed for use within virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) have revealed that they will be present at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2018 conference. The company plan to make a big splash at the event with a number of announcements following their successful achievements in several business and product development milestones.

captoglove_logo

Acting as wireless controllers, the CaptoGlove allows users a means to interaction with immersive experiences in a more natural and human way. Originally designed to assist victims of stroke recover the use of their hands, the technology has been developed into a wearable solution to all for support for all types of VR, AR, and MR applications. CaptoGlove uses flexible Bend Sensors provided by Flexpoint, along with a washable, breathable textile to create the finished product for consumer use.

Some of the achievements the company have recently made include the issuance of CaptoGlove US Patent and complete registration fully achieved. The company’s most recent release of the CaptoGlove will also feature it’s prototype haptic somatosensory module. Support for the Unreal Engine 4 SDK has been improved to including Blueprint scripts which will dramatically streamline the workflow for developers. Likewise, the Unity 3D SDK has been given support for improved product performance for both 32-bit and 64-bit environments. Lastly, the Open VR driver for SteamVR has been been given support, offering a feature-set which enables full compatibility with all SteamVR content.

On the partnership side of things, CaptoGlove’s integration within the Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) highlights the exciting DCS: F/A-18C Hornet and Persian Gulf Map for DCS World products from Eagle Dynamics SA. The CaptoGlove has also been demonstrated with interactions with the newest Pimax 8K M1 headset, featuring a market leading 200-degree field of view for users, with a 4K per eye clear view and minimized screen door effect. Thanks to the interaction with CaptoGlove, the two allow for some of the most graphically advanced VR experiences complete with immersive and natural interaction.

As CaptoGlove requires no addition integration and is designed to work seamlessly with all PCs and smartphones by automatically detecting a wide variety of hand and finger movements. It is able to bring a new level of realism to immersive experiences and offer users a truly natural interaction.

For more on CaptoGlove in the future and E3 2018, keep reading VRFocus.

July 21, 2017

Flexpoint Says AR and VR is Having a Big Effect on Commerce

Flexpoint Sensor Systems are primarily known for creating custom flexible sensors called ‘Bend Sensors’ for use in products such as data gloves. The company has recently announced that it has received a record purchase order volume from virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) market and has used this to comment upon how VR and AR have impacted commerce.

Flexpoint has received orders for more than 150,000 sensors and associated kits and accessories from companies around the world. The large volume of orders is expected to contribute to the 500% increase in revenue growth that Flexpoint has experience this year, a demand which is expected to continue into 2018 and beyond. Flexpoint says it has seen the growth of the VR and AR markets, with the emergence of high-end VR technology such as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Sony PlayStation VR as a significant contributor towards its own growth as a company.

Paul Sexauer, Flexpoint VP Sales & Marketing, said: “You will be hard pressed to find an industry or market segment anywhere around the world that does not embrace the value of VR/AR in one form or another. With our differentiated Bend Sensor technology, industry experience and strong market focus, we are very pleased to be so uniquely well positioned to grow with it. Our development partners/customers are leading the way to market adoption of these life changing technologies. It is very exciting to be a key part of it!”

The growth and adoption of VR and AR by the business-to-business sub-sector is seen by Flexpoint as something that more businesses should pay attention to, as they identify three use cases that are driving the growth of VR and AR. Namely, the ability for customers to use VR to view a product without needing to leave home, VR and AR use in training and education and the difference that being able to ‘experience’ a product or location instead of seeing a static image.

VRFocus will continue to report on developments within the VR and AR industry.

March 20, 2017

CaptoGlove Launches Kickstarter for Wearable VR Controller

CaptoGlove today announced the launch of a Kickstarter campaign for its new wireless, wearable controller. The controller has been in development for five years and last month was demonstrated to GDC.

The device was originally designed to assist victims of stroke recover the use of their hands. From there, CaptoGlove have developed the technology into a wearable, wireless controller for use with all types of virtual reality (VR). CaptoGlove is using flexible Bend Sensors provided by Flexpoint, along with a washable, breathable textile, to create the device.

The CaptoGlove device works via Bluetooth, and is designed to be compatible with all VR headsets and iOS/Android smartphones. The manufacturers also claim it will be compatible with ‘All PC games, past and present.’ The gestures used are all fully customisable via an app available for free on iOS, Android and PC.

“The human hand is the greatest controller in the world,” said Paolo Trotta CEO of CaptoGlove. “With CaptoGlove you can now extend that natural precision, response time and efficiency across a wide variety of tasks and devices.”

The Kickstarter campaign is set to run until 24^th April, 2017 and CaptoGlove are looking to raise $50,000 (USD) in funding. Funding tiers range from a simple $1 (USD) to get access to exclusive updates, to $160 (USD) Early Bird offer for a single CaptoGlove. The top tier costs $599, and gets the backer a pair of CaptoGloves, along with additional sensors that can be used for extra precision.

captoglove glove design

CaptoGlove believe that, should funding be successful, the units should be ready to ship in September 2017. Software Developments Kits for Unity 3D and Unreal Engine 4 should also be available sometime between July and September. Further details are available on the Kickstarter page. You can watch a launch trailer for the campaign below.

VRFocus will bring you further updates on CaptoGlove and other VR related crowdfunding campaigns as they are revealed.

March 20, 2017

CaptoGlove Launches Kickstarter for Wearable VR Controller

captoglove user 1

captoglove glove design

VRFocus will bring you further updates on CaptoGlove and other VR related crowdfunding campaigns as they are revealed.

March 17, 2017

Flexpoint and CaptoGlove team up to create VR/AR Glove Controller

Two companies in the market of producing accessories for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) systems, Flexpoint Sensor Systems and CaptoGlove, have formed a strategic partnership to create a consumer ready, wearable gaming motion controller.

Flexpoint, known for producing custom flexible sensors called Bend Sensors for use in data gloves, including a ‘build-it-yourself’ kit that comes with five Bend Sensors, a PCB board and connectors, has received a mass production order from CaptoGlove to go into its device. Just like Manus VR, CaptoGlove will be utilising Flexpoint’s Bend Sensors in a wearable VR motion controller designed for gaming that translates human hand movements into accurate digital inputs.

Flexpoint USB Glove Kit

CaptoGlove and Flexpoint both expect demand for this type of product to be on the rise as the VR/AR industry continues to grow. CaptoGlove COO Mauro Bettiol said in a statement: “Our product is engineered with quality in mind: from software to hardware. When we decided to scale our production and maintain the quality standards very high, we partnered with Flexpoint.”

Paul Sexauer, Flexpoint VP Sales & Marketing, added: “To be a strategic partner with such a ground-breaking technology leader in a rapidly burgeoning marketspace is an honour. We are especially pleased as this represents the largest order we have received in one of our targeted market segments. This is a relationship we look forward to continuing to build.”

The partnership between the two companies is part of a deal for CaptoGlove and Flexpoint to provide VR/AR systems to other businesses and military as well as directly to consumers.

VRFocus will bring you further updates on CaptoGlove and Flexpoint as they come in.