AblePlanet preps a gaming headset with smart haptics, we preview the tech inside (hands-on)

AblePlanet and ViviTouch releasing a haptic gaming headset, we preview the technology behind it handson

Headsets with vibrating haptics aren't exactly novel -- we've already seen such offerings from Skullcandy as well as Sony. Now AblePlanet is coming out with something similar, but the underlying technology makes it considerably smarter than anything currently on the market. The company recently announced it's pairing up with haptics firm ViviTouch to make a gaming headset that offers different-feeling vibrations depending on what kind of music you're listening to, or what's happening in the game. The as-yet-unnamed headset will go on sale within the next six to nine months, according to AblePlanet, with pricing to be announced at a later date.

Additionally, the companies plan to team up on other projects, including ear canal devices for field workers (firefighters, etc.) and even products for the hearing impaired. Before we get ahead of ourselves, though, we want to give you a quick preview of the headset, which we tested for a few minutes here at CES. Unfortunately, the set we tested today was merely a retrofitted NC1000CH plugged into a control box. Still, it gave us a good sense of what we can expect when the final product drops later this year. Meet us after the break to learn more.

Continue reading AblePlanet preps a gaming headset with smart haptics, we preview the tech inside (hands-on)

Filed under: ,

Comments

Researchers suggest haptics and audio for discreet password input

Researchers suggest haptics and audio for discreet password input
You can use as complex as a password as you like, but that won't do you much good if someone's able to watch or record you entering it. Researchers Andrea Bianchi, Ian Oakley and Dong-Soo Kwon have some ideas for overcoming that little problem though, and recently put together a video demonstrating a few of the possibilities they've come up with. All of those rely on haptic input systems -- either on their own or in conjunction with some audio output (through headphones for privacy). That includes things like a dedicated haptic keypad or haptic wheel, and different methods that could take advantage of a haptic display on a smartphone. As you can see in the video after the break, some of those options could be a bit more time consuming than an easy-to-remember password, but there's certainly plenty of potential applications where security would trump convenience.

[Thanks, An]

Continue reading Researchers suggest haptics and audio for discreet password input

Researchers suggest haptics and audio for discreet password input originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 02:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceIEEE Computer Society, YouTube  | Email this | Comments