- bHaptics vest and sleeves let you experience virtual reality
- Compatible with Meta Quest 3, PC VR and PSVR 2
- I tried them and I love them
I love virtual reality and the incredibly immersive experiences it can facilitate through headsets like the Meta Quest 3. But even so, VR headsets do well, they’re limited to sight and sound – with rumbles Basic haptics in the controllers (and, in some cases, headset rumble) doing only a little to immerse you via touch. These simple haptics don’t really feel like a VR world, but with accessories from bHaptics – which I tested at CES – you can unlock a superior experience.
For my demo, I was equipped with three accessories: the TactSuit Pro Haptic Vest on my chest, a pair of TactSleeve Haptic Arm Guards, and my Meta Quest 3 headset was equipped with the Tact Haptic Visor to provide head haptics.
I was then dropped into a custom XR sandbox equipped with various weapons and items that showcased the capabilities of bHaptics technology.
Picking up a virtual shotgun, I could feel the bounce in my arm and shoulder, while the electric shotgun sent a tingling ripple down my arm and side. I could feel healing drinks in my stomach and gentle waves through my body to signify that I was back to full health.
To help highlight the differences, the demo also featured non-haptic versions of each object so I could compare them directly with the haptics – and the haptic versions are a huge step forward for immersion. I admit they weren’t always perfect in terms of real-life feel, but I’d give them an 8 or 9 out of 10, while the non-haptic controller rumbles are maybe a 2 or 3.
The experience was further increased by feeling the same weapons I had fired before shooting myself. Fortunately, it wasn’t painful, but I could fire electric shocks and lasers at a model representing myself and feel the attacks – my actions sending realistic signals through the haptics of the vest, arm and helmet.
It was surprisingly precise – tracing the laser across my back, I could feel differently placed haptic sensors activate as it moved – and gave VR attacks a more tactile punch than they usually would.
Perhaps what was best about it all is that these haptic gadgets aren’t prosumer accessories that only businesses or people with lots of money to spend can enjoy. The vest is priced at $499, the sleeve is $199, and the visor is $149 – which isn’t cheap, but isn’t prohibitive either. Additionally, they are compatible with Quest, PSVR 2, and PC experiences in games like Beat Saber, Dungeons of Eternity And Arizona Sun 2 just to name a few.
The team also explained that community members can create their own custom haptic mapping mods for currently unsupported titles on PC – or to increase haptics in supported titles, so you don’t You won’t always have to wait for a developer to incorporate haptics themselves.
I’d love to test them further, but based on my brief demo, I was very impressed with what bHaptics created. If you’re looking to upgrade your VR headset setup, I suggest you not only look at a headset strap or carrying case, but also one of these haptic vests.
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