bHaptics, the company behind a range of popular TactSuit haptic vests for VR gaming, has announced TactGlove, a pair of $299 haptic gloves for the consumer market.
TactGlove will be on display at CES 2022 next week, but bHaptics announced the gloves early in the video below.
bHapitcs Announces TactGlove
The gloves employ 10 Linear Resonant Actuators on the tips of your fingers and thumbs to deliver a sense of touch when combined with hand-tracking capabilities on headsets like Quest 2 and HoloLens 2. This likely means the motors will activate when you place your fingers on virtual surfaces, but the gloves won’t actually stop you from putting your hands through objects and walls. They’ll come in three sizes and feature a washable liner.
bHaptics hasn’t yet confirmed if the gloves can be used in conjunction with the TactSuit vest, but the widespread support for the former product has been particularly strong on Quest. It will be interesting to see if the TactGloves offer a compelling enough experience to benefit from the same support. Obviously on Quest the gloves will be limited to hand-tracking experiences, though this library is growing steadily.
During CES bHaptics will showcase the game running with Unplugged: Air Guitar — which recently took home UploadVR’s Best Quest Game of 2021 award — and Hand Physics Lab. The company plans to sell developers kits from Q2 of 2022, with a full release coming later on in the year.
bHaptics is now taking pre-orders for two new models of its VR haptic feedback vest, the Tactsuit.
The Tactsuit x16 and x40 are both up now for $299 and $499 respectively. Both suits use ERM motors dotted across the vest to deliver haptic feedback when playing select VR content. Take a bullet in Onward, for example, and you’ll feel vibrations in your chest for added immersion.
bHaptics Pre-Orders Go Live
Over the past few months bHaptics has been building a library of content to support its vests across both PC and Oculus Quest. On PC, native integration is included in games like Onward, Crisis VRigade 2 and Sairento VR, while the company also says titles like Half-Life: Alyx, Blade & Sorcery and Skyrim VR are supported via mods.
For Quest, the app is also apparently officially supported in Onward, Sairento, Thrill of the Fight and Apex Construct while SideQuest titles like Let’s Go Chopping and Hyper Dash support it too.
As for the two separate models, there’s a fair bit of difference between them. The more expensive x40, for example, features 40 motors for more feedback compared to the x16’s (you guessed it) 16. That could make all the difference in terms of experience, though the x16 is expected to last longer on a full charge (22 hours compared to 18) thanks to the smaller number of components.
Bear in mind that we haven’t tried the Tactsuit for ourselves yet, so we can’t speak to its actual quality. We’re hoping to get a review unit to bring you full impressions in the near future, though.
Need to make your virtual reality (VR) gameplay experience even more immersive, then you’ll want to accessorize? Maybe an omni-directional treadmill for example or how about more haptic feedback? If it’s the latter then bHaptics’ TactSuit has been one of the more consumer-friendly ways to add body feedback. It’s almost time to make way for not one but two new models, with pre-orders for the TactSuit X Series going live today.
The original TactSuit is now going to make way for two variants, the entry-level TactSuit X16 priced at $299 USD and the TackSuit X40 at $499. Both designed to fit a wide variety of body types, from 25-50 inch chests, the biggest difference between the two is the haptic feedback. bHaptics is still using the ERM motors from the original model with the X16 featuring 16 of them (8 front/8 rear) while the X40 has 40 of them, supplying a more tactile response.
The new haptic vests also include further improvements over the original such as an audio port alongside Bluetooth connectivity and new straps at the side and on the shoulders for a better fit. Battery life has also been enhanced, up from 15 hours to 18 on the X40 and 22 hours for the X16. The TactSuit X40 weighs in at 1.7kg (3.7lbs) whilst the X16 is a little lighter at 0.95kg (1.2lbs).
The addition of the audio port helps to expand the TactSuit’s versatility as it enables more Audio-to-Haptics functionality. Via a wired connection this supports stereo (2ch) haptic feedback so even if a VR videogame isn’t natively supported (or simply for listening to music) you can add a basic haptic response.
Customers can then play around with the feedback through the bHaptics Player app which offers in-depth customisation options across the audio frequency range. They can edit preset themes or create entirely new ones to their liking. For those after plug and play functionality bHaptics’ software natively supports a bunch of titles such as Onward, Thrill of the Fightand Space Junkies with Phasmophobia, Pavlov and Ilysia coming soon. Plus, via mods, there’s Half-Life: Alyx, Arizona Sunshine, The Walking Dead: Saint & Sinnersand more.
bHaptics’ pre-orders for the TactSuit X40 & X16 are now live, running through until 9th December 2020. Pre-ordering will get customers a few additional extras – a mesh lining, audio cable and Y-jack. The orders will then begin shipping from 10th December. For further updates on the TactSuit, keep reading VRFocus.
Used by location-based entertainment (LBE) locations worldwide, such as Hologate and Sandbox VR, bHaptics’ TactSuit system offers haptic feedback for the upper body, arms and even face. The company has been working with developers to natively integrate TactSuit into their projects, announcing this week that more titles have been added. Plus, bHaptics will be running a week-long sale for those interested in making their virtual reality (VR) gameplay more immersive.
During CES 2020 bHaptics revealed that Sairento Untethered and Thrill of the Fight had been integrated. They are now joined by Apex Construct, Death Horizon: Reloaded, Fallout 4 VR (using this mod), Half-Life: Alyx(using this mod), MissionX: Lite, Windlands 2, and Zomday. This means that TactSuit is now compatible with more than 25 videogames.
“We are committed to providing as many compatible games as possible in order to provide TactSuit users with quality haptic experiences in VR,” said bHaptics in a statement. “We’ve made sure that haptic integration is quick and easy for developers and our dev team stands ready to assist as much as they can.”
If your favourite VR title isn’t on the list then bHaptics does have a solution for that, its new Advanced Audio-to-Haptic mode. Designed to provide better haptic feedback for non-supported videogames the mode converts the audio output into haptic feedback, whilst also recognising instances like firing a gun or getting hit by an attack. The company will provide presets for popular titles such as Arizona Sunshine and The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners.
The main consumer product is the haptic vest (or Tactot) which retails for $499 USD and is compatible with headsets including Oculus Quest/Rift, HTC Vive and many more. However, starting 21st May bHaptics will be running a week-long sale (until 31st May) knocking 20 percent off the price. It’s not just the Tactot which will be on sale, all the other products in the TactSuit range will be, so treat yourself to a haptic face cushion (Tactal) or the arm sleeves. The sale will only take place on the official bHaptics store.
VRFocus will continue its coverage of the latest haptic devices for both the consumer and LBE markets, reporting back with further updates.
Gamers are used to haptic feedback in their controllers, rumbling away to indicate actions. When it comes to virtual reality (VR), haptic feedback can make an experience even more engaging, especially when this involves the entire body. bHaptics is one such company offering a solution for those that really strive for immersive gaming, with its Tactsuit system. During CES 2020 bHaptics announced it was even easier to delve into this new world, as its haptic vest became available on Amazon.
bHaptics Tacksuit is an entire system designed for haptic immersion, with the main component being the Tactot vest. Featuring 40 individually controllable haptic points, wireless connection via Bluetooth Low Energy technology (BLE) and an adjustable waistband which can accommodate 26″ to 50″ waists, the vest retails for $499 USD. Previously only available through bHaptics website and marketed towards enterprise users such as location-based venues (LBE), the company is now eyeing up more consumer sales thanks to its Amazon availability.
As mentioned there’s more to the system than just the vest – the only component available on Amazon – allowing gamers to go for the full-body experience if they so chose (have the money). There’s the Tactal, a haptic face cushion which supports a range of headsets including Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Pimax for $149.00. Or how about the Tactosy which comes in arm, hand and feet versions for $249.00, completing the full-body coverage.
One of the latest updates bHaptics announced during the event was its audio-to-haptic features for 7.1 sound channel. bHaptics’ software automatically converts sound output of content into haptic feedback in real-time and supports both 7.1 channel and stereo sound system. Users are able to customize a wide range of frequencies, selecting certain frequencies if they so choose.
When it comes to VR support the latest titles compatible with Tactsuit are Sairento Untethered and Thrill of the Fight, both of which are now available on Oculus Quest.
Check out the interview with bHaptics’ Jeniffer L for some further information. As the company releases further updates, VRFocus will let you know.
Gamescom is one of the few truly gargantuan expos dedicated to gaming, holding within its massive Zeppelin hanger-sized halls all manner of ostentatious booth featuring all the big names in gaming. But it’s not all glitz, cosplay, and long lines at Gamescom. Back in the more demure B2B area, only accessible to trade visitors and press, was bHaptics, a Korean startup that recently joined HTC’s Vive X Accelerator Program specializing in actuator-based haptic devices, all of which ideally fit together to create a greater sense of immersion for VR games and experiences.
Everything in the TactSuit kit is wireless (Bluetooth Low Energy), which includes a vest and two ‘Tactosy’ arm bangles. There’s also a head-mounted haptic piece that wasn’t present at the show, which bHaptics explained to me was because it’s still in prototyping, and that unlike the picture shown below, which is more of a headband, it would either replace or fit over the foam gasket in either HTC Vive or Oculus Rift.
image courtesy Engadget
Initially strapping on the vest, I was told you have to cinch it tightly to your body so you get solid contact with each of the 40 actuators (20 on the front, 20 on the back), something that felt more or less comfortable at first. However getting more and more into the zombie shooter demo, which unleashed an array of different enemy types at me from 360 degrees, I started to feel the vest’s material hold in more and more heat. I would guess that longer playtimes (in excess of 20 minutes) would see some discomfort in users. The entire kit, headpiece included, contains a total of 87 actuators.
Lets get this out on the table before I go any further. Buzzing actuators, like those in smartphones and motion controllers alike, are pretty limited in the type of tactile sensation they can simulate. For example; a short, strong buzz would be good for a gunshot, and a long, weak buzz for a simple touch. The more the actuators however, the greater the ‘touch resolution’, which can create other sensations either by activating multiple actuators at once, or in a specific sequence. Think about getting shot in the stomach by a pulse rifle. The interior shot is hard and fast, and actuators on the periphery of the shot only gently buzz in a wave extending out from the shot. You can also simulate things like a slice across the chest or back in any direction, or an electric shock which sends the whole vest’s worth of actuators in a chaotic tizzy.
Anyway, zombies were lurching towards me from all sides, and feeling a claw ripping down my back for the first time, which was really just a line of actuators activating in sequence, was a surprising as it was terrifying. My brain filled in the necessary gaps, as I learned ‘buzz = bad’ in a short order. Soon the horde had me surrounded and my whole vest was buzzing wildly, with me frantically shooting to get them off of me.
As for the arm bangles, they’re a piece of the kit that do essentially one useful function: activating when you fire a gun to give you more perceived kick-back. This I found less useful for the purpose of overall immersion, and I may chalk it up to the demo, but the frantic shooting resulted in two constantly buzzing forearms. The bangles can technically also allow for more detailed haptic feedback because of their higher ‘actuator per square inch’ resolution, but I’m not sure what it would accomplish outside of having to learn what certain buzzes mean in the context of a game.
image courtesy Engadget
In the end, I learned that actuators alone do not a perfect haptic solution make, but you certainly can’t deny the novelty of strapping into a vest that lets you feel the digital realm in any capacity. I’m still not certain it’s really for me just yet though. At “less than $549” for the consumer version (coming later this year), TactSuit customers will likely fall into two camps; enthusiasts at the forefront of VR gaming, and out-of-home entertainment parks like the Korea-based Lotte World, which currently hosts VR games using the set-up. There’s always the question of support too. Like many new VR peripherals, the onus falls on individual developers to import TactSuit’s plugin into their projects, so the list of games that will work with it depends entirely on the game developer’s appraisal of whether taking the time to do so will be a profitable use of their time. It’s a vicious cycle that’s hard to break out of, but there’s no telling what customers want and how loud they’ll be about getting it.
Virtual reality (VR) is all about immersing the user in whatever experience they happen to be playing, primarily achieved through sight and sound. Haptic technology aims to add the next level of immersion, so that players can actually feel whatever’s happening in the virtual world with several companies developing various methods to create this. One of the most popular avenues being employed is a haptic suit or vest, with companies like Nullspace VR and its Hardlight VR suit. Recently HTX Vive held a demo day in Shanghai, China with Korean startup bHaptics demoing its TactSuit.
The wireless kit features a vest with 40 feedback points – 20 on the front, 20 on the rear – two sleeves which each have 20 and a haptic mask with seven points, making for an impressive 87 reports Engadget. That’s significantly more than the Hardlight suit which features 16 individually controlled haptic feedback zones.
Photo Credit: Engadget
With such a large amount of actuators providing feedback bHaptics can then supply even more realistic sensory simulation, which a device with fewer could not. For example, rather than multiple gunshots feeling like just the front of your body was being hit, you could actually tell if you were shot in the chest or abdomen. Or how about an insect crawling across your face or putting your arm up to defend against a punch.
This can be achieved through bHaptics in-house editing software that supports Unity. It would allow developers to create haptic paths across the individual feedback points for certain gameplay scenarios. The software also features an option to select the force each point outputs, as well as how rough the vibration can be.
The TactSuit is expected to be priced at under $549 USD, but as yet there are no plans to release it to consumers. bHaptics is looking at selling to the enterprise market to begin with, such as VR arcades, as well as developers.
As VRFocus learns more about bHaptics and TactSuit, we’ll let you know.
Das koreanische Start-Up bHaptics hat ein vergleichsweise günstiges Set entwickelt, mit denen Anwender noch lebensechter in virtuelle Welten eintauchen können. Insgesamt kommen 87 vibrierende Feedback-Punkte zum Einsatz. Das TactSuit-Set besteht aus einem Wireless-Kit, Weste, zwei Manschetten und als Besonderheit eine Maske.
TactSuit: Feedback für Brust, Rücken, Arme und Kopf
Lösungen für ein haptisches Feedback gab und gibt es immer wieder, richtig durchsetzen konnten sich die Westen allerdings nie. Zu teuer und zu eingeschränkt waren die bisherigen Angebote. Die Tactsuit ist mit knapp 550 US-Dollar zwar kein Schnäppchen, bietet aber mehr als manche Konkurrenten im gleichen Preisbereich: nämlich ganze 87 Vibrationsmotoren, die eine genaue Steuerung des gewünschten Feedbacks ermöglichen. Zum Vergleich: Der ungefähr gleich teure Hardlight VR-Anzug bietet lediglich 16 Sensoren. Bei der TactSuit verstecken sich sieben Motoren in einer Maske und jeweils 20 in den beiden Manschetten. In der Weste vibrieren je 20 Motoren hinten und vorne.
Der Einsatzbereich richtet somit vornehmlich an Spieler, die feine Abstimmung des Feedbacks lässt bestimmte Aktionen realistischer erscheinen: Beispielsweise, wenn der Anwender von einer Monsterkralle oder einem Schwertstreich getroffen wird. Bei der Umsetzung hilft eine Software des Herstellers bHaptics, die mit der Spiele-Entwicklungsumgebung Unity kompatibel ist.
In Seoul kommt das Kit bereits zum Einsatz, im koreanischen Vergnüngungspark Lotte World stellten sich bereits rund 50.000 Koreaner dem Horrortitel Zombie Attack (siehe Video). Täglich kommen 500 neue Spieler dazu. Richard Lai von Engadget konnte die Erfahrung kurz mit einer HTC Vive antesten und kommt insgesamt zu einem positiven Ergebnis: Die Weste ist nicht zu schwer und steigert das Alptraumszenario erheblich. Vor allem dann, wenn man einen Schlag in den Rücken erhält, sich umdreht und einem Zombie gegenübersteht. Anschließend die blutigen Untoten über den Haufen zu knallen, sei dank der Manschetten um den Armgelenken besonders befriedigend.
Ein kleines Problem könnte für Brillenträger allerdings die Maske sein, da man mit ihr auf die Sehhilfe verzichten muss. Und eine Einschränkung gibt es dann doch noch: Die TactSuit richtet sich bisher ausschließlich an Geschäftskunden und Entwickler, eine Consumer-Variante planen die Koreaner wohl derzeit nicht.
