HaptX: The Future of Haptics?

When we think of haptics feedback devices, vibrating motors usually come to mind. Or in the case of something like the Nintendo JoyCon, actuators that use a sound wave to control what you feel. At Haptx, they’re taking a radical new approach to haptic technology. One that when combined with Mixed Reality, has the power convince you that you’re touching something that doesn’t exist in real life.

The HaptX gloves combine pneumatic actuators (for the sensation of touch) with a force feedback system (to give the illusion of objects being solid) and high quality motion tracking (so the game engine can accurately mimic your hand motion.)

One of the coolest things about this system is the force feedback exoskeleton. The gloves can actually apply up to 4 pounds of resistance per finger, give you the impression of solid objects.

The implications of this technology for training applications are huge. If you want to have someone learn how to use a piece of equipment that doesn’t exist yet, I think a VR app with buttons to perform actions will do a decent job. Things like the Oculus Touch, or the upcoming Valve Knuckles are step forward. They allow you to forget about the controller being in your hands, so manipulating things is quite a bit more natural.

Something like these HaptX gloves leapfrog all those controllers- you don’t hold anything at all. And yet, you have the sensation of holding objects that don’t exist. It seems like the fidelity is high enough that you could twist knobs and push buttons on something like a control panel.

So, what’s the drawback? Well, being a pneumatic system, it uses air to control the 120 actuators in the glove that create the sensation of touch on your hand. This means you’re tethered to a box, about the size of a small PC that contains a small air compressor.

But regardless, we can’t wait to give one of these a spin. I think this could be a great option for our customers to consider when building a custom interactive experience with us. If you want to see the Haptx in action, check out this Smarter Every Day video!