Researchers reveal game controller that pulls and stretches your thumbs

Posted on Thursday, March 08 2012 @ 0:26 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
ScienceBlog reports engineers at the University of Utah have developed a prototype of a new video game controller that can tug at your thumb tips to simulate the recoil of a gun or the tug of a fishing line. Full details over here.
The latest game controller prototype looks like controllers for Microsoft’s Xbox or Sony’s PlayStation but with an addition to the controller’s normal thumb joysticks, on which the thumbs are placed and moved in different directions to control the game. In the new controller, the middle of each ring-shaped thumb stick has a round, red “tactor” that looks like the eraser-head-shaped IBM TrackPoint or pointing stick now found on a number of laptop computer brands.

If a gamer’s avatar runs into a wall, the tactor under the thumb moves back to mimic impact. Both tactors can move from side to side to mimic ocean waves. And when a fish bites in one of the games the researchers tried, “as the fish jerks on the line, you can feel the tactor jerk under your thumb,” Provancher says.


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



Loading Comments