Immersion: engaging the sense of touch
posted Apr 1st 2007, 11:53 under haptics, immersion, technology
Immersion is probably the biggest name in the haptic technologies market. They have been around since 1993 and hold +600 patents for various haptic systems. Most of their products and applications are targeted at businesses and large corporations (due to the high cost), but new offerings are finding their way into mainstream market.
Their range of products is quite impressive: from automotive systems to medical and gaming applications. Mobile devices are also under their portfolio with the VibeTonz system. At first sight, it looks like personalized tactile ring-tones, but I guess the possibilities are much broader than this. I never encountered such device or demo unit, but I heard some report that it is quite convincing and believable.
If you don't mind cheesy music and an over-excited host, check this 9 min. Flash video from Tech Closeup. It showcases some of the Immersion products and technologies.
The Immersion website also offers good information on haptics: