Haptic gloves priced for scalable deployment
Haptics technology specialist HaptX has announced the availability of pre-orders of the company’s new HaptX Gloves G1, offered as a ground-breaking haptic device optimized for the enterprise metaverse. The HaptX Gloves G1 have been engineered with the features most requested by its customers, says the company, including improved ergonomics, multiple glove sizes, wireless mobility, new and improved haptic functionality, and multiplayer collaboration.
“With HaptX Gloves G1, we’re making it possible for all organizations to leverage our lifelike haptics,” says Jake Rubin, Founder and CEO of HaptX. “Touch is the cornerstone of the next generation of human-machine interface technologies, and the opportunities are endless.”
HaptX Gloves G1 leverages advances in materials science and the latest manufacturing techniques to deliver the first haptic gloves that fit like a conventional glove, says the company. The Gloves’ digits, palm, and wrist are soft and flexible for uninhibited dexterity and comfort.
Available in four sizes (Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large), the Gloves offer the best fit and performance for all adult hands. Inside the Gloves are hundreds of microfluidic actuators that physically displace a user’s skin, so when they touch and interact with virtual objects, the objects feel real.
To create the Gloves’ realistic haptic feedback, a lightweight, wireless Airpack generates compressed air and precisely controls its flow. A sleek, quiet console, the Airpack can be worn comfortably on the body in backpack mode for room-scale applications or easily placed on a table for seated and standing applications. The Airpack delivers three hours of use on a single charge without connection to external air or power.
The HaptX Software Development Kit is designed to make it easy for developers to bring realistic touch to their applications with HaptX Gloves G1. The HaptX SDK is optimized for enterprise and industrial use cases, offering plugins for Unreal Engine and Unity, as well as a C++ API.
New features of the HaptX SDK include: advanced vibrotactile feedback for simulation of microscale surface textures; a ROS node that enables telerobotics operators to connect HaptX Gloves G1 to remote robots for natural, accurate control of robotic end effectors; and a ground-breaking haptic multiplayer feature, which allows multiple users to work in the same virtual environment and feel the same objects, regardless of physical location, vastly improving collaborative training, design reviews, and more.
The company is accepting pre-orders for HaptX Gloves G1. Organizations can pre-order an individual pair of HaptX Gloves G1 for $5,495 or a bundle of all 4 sizes for only $4,500 per pair. HaptX plans to begin shipping HaptX Gloves G1 systems to customers in the third quarter of 2023.
With HaptX Gloves G1, the company is introducing the HaptX Subscription program, a Hardware as a Service model that provides cost-effective, turn-key product deployment and support for enterprise customers. Each HaptX Subscription includes an Airpack, the HaptX SDK, and a comprehensive service and maintenance plan. Use of HaptX Gloves G1 requires a HaptX Subscription which starts at $495 per month.
